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Review
. 2017:2017:5046953.
doi: 10.1155/2017/5046953. Epub 2017 Sep 17.

Structure and Functions of Blood Vessels and Vascular Niches in Bone

Saravana K Ramasamy  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Structure and Functions of Blood Vessels and Vascular Niches in Bone

Saravana K Ramasamy. Stem Cells Int. 2017.

Abstract

Bone provides nurturing microenvironments for an array of cell types that coordinate important physiological functions of the skeleton, such as energy metabolism, mineral homeostasis, osteogenesis, and haematopoiesis. Endothelial cells form an intricate network of blood vessels that organises and sustains various microenvironments in bone. The recent identification of heterogeneity in the bone vasculature supports the existence of multiple vascular niches within the bone marrow compartment. A unique combination of cells and factors defining a particular microenvironment, supply regulatory signals to mediate a specific function. This review discusses recent developments in our understanding of vascular niches in bone that play a critical role in regulating the behaviour of multipotent haematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells during development and homeostasis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Blood vessel arrangement in long bone. (a) Longitudinal view demonstrates arrangement of arteries, veins, and capillaries in the epiphysis, metaphysis, and diaphysis regions of long bone. Arteries branch into smaller arterioles and terminate in type H capillaries. Type H capillaries are localised near osteoprogenitors in the metaphysis and endosteum regions. Type L capillaries are sinusoidal vessels terminating in the central vein. (b) Transverse view shows bone vascular pattern in cortical and medullary regions of long bone. A large central vein and a few nutrient arteries are prominent in the medullary region. (c) Arrangement of blood vessels showing the connection between cortical and medullary blood flow. Periosteal blood vessels are connected intermittently with cortical blood vessels.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Vascular microenvironments in bone. Multiple types of perivascular mesenchymal stromal cells are supported by distinct subtypes of vascular structures in the bone marrow microenvironment. Arteriolar niche supports long-term HSCs (LT-HSC) while sinusoidal niche maintains short-term and cycling HSCs (ST-HSCs).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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