Stem-Cell Niches in Health and Disease: Microenvironmental Determinants of Regeneration and Pathology

Abstract

Stem-cell behavior is governed not solely by intrinsic genetic programs but by highly specialized microenvironments-or niches-that integrate structural, biochemical, and mechanical cues to regulate quiescence, self-renewal, and differentiation. This review traces the evolution of stem-cell niche biology from foundational embryological discoveries to its current role as a central determinant in tissue regeneration and disease. We describe the cellular and extracellular matrix architectures that define adult stem-cell niches across diverse organs and dissect conserved signaling axes-including Wnt, BMP, and Notch-that orchestrate lineage commitment. Emphasis is placed on how aging, inflammation, fibrosis, and metabolic stress disrupt niche function, converting supportive environments into autonomous drivers of pathology. We then examine emerging therapeutic strategies that shift the regenerative paradigm from a stem-cell-centric to a niche-centric model. These include stromal targeting (e.g., FAP inhibition), which are engineered scaffolds that replicate native niche mechanics, extracellular vesicles that deliver paracrine cues, and composite constructs that preserve endogenous cell-matrix interactions. Particular attention is given to cardiac, hematopoietic, reproductive, and neurogenic niches, where clinical failures often reflect niche misalignment rather than intrinsic stem-cell deficits. We argue that successful regenerative interventions must treat stem cells and their microenvironment as an inseparable therapeutic unit. Future advances will depend on high-resolution niche mapping, mechanobiologically informed scaffold design, and niche-targeted clinical trials. Re-programming pathological niches may unlock regenerative outcomes that surpass classical cell therapies, marking a new era of microenvironmentally integrated medicine.

Keywords: Wnt signaling; angiogenesis; extracellular matrix; extracellular vesicles; hematopoiesis; microenvironment; regenerative medicine; self-renewal; stem-cell niche; tissue engineering.