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Editorial
. 2018 Feb;93(2):167-171.
doi: 10.1002/cyto.a.23301. Epub 2017 Dec 13.

Adipocytes role in the bone marrow niche

Daniel A P Guerra  1 , Ana E Paiva  1 , Isadora F G Sena  1 , Patrick O Azevedo  1 , Miguel Luiz Batista Jr  2 , Akiva Mintz  3 , Alexander Birbrair  1
Affiliations
Editorial

Adipocytes role in the bone marrow niche

Daniel A P Guerra et al. Cytometry A. 2018 Feb.

Abstract

Adipocyte infiltration in the bone marrow follows chemotherapy or irradiation. Previous studies indicate that bone marrow fat cells inhibit hematopoietic stem cell function. Recently, Zhou et al. (2017) using state-of-the-art techniques, including sophisticated Cre/loxP technologies, confocal microscopy, in vivo lineage-tracing, flow cytometry, and bone marrow transplantation, reveal that adipocytes promote hematopoietic recovery after irradiation. This study challenges the current view of adipocytes as negative regulators of the hematopoietic stem cells niche, and reopens the discussion about adipocytes' roles in the bone marrow. Strikingly, genetic deletion of stem cell factor specifically from adipocytes leads to deficiency in hematopoietic stem cells, and reduces animal survival after myeloablation, The emerging knowledge from this research will be important for the treatment of multiple hematologic disorders. © 2017 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.

Keywords: adipocytes; bone marrow; hematopoiesis; hematopoietic stem cells.

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Conflict of interest statement

DISCLOSURES

The authors indicate no potential conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Adipocytes promotes hematopoietic regeneration in the bone marrow
Adipocytes increase in the bone marrow microenvironment with after irradiation. The study of Zhou and colleagues now reveals a novel very important function for adipocytes in the hematopoietic stem cells recovery after myeloablation (19). Adipocyte-derived stem cell factor mediate hematopoietic regeneration in the bone marrow, and absence of stem cell factor specifically in adipocytes leads to deficiency in hematopoietic stem cells, and reduces animal survival. Future studies will reveal other roles of adipocytes in the bone marrow niche, and whether a specific hematopoietic stem cell subpopulation is regulated by adipocytes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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