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The Vascular Stem Cell Niche

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Abstract

Stem cells in adult organs reside in specialized niches that regulate their proliferation and differentiation. Investigations during the last few years have unveiled a regulatory role for blood vessels in these microenvironments. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are located surrounding capillaries in a variety of tissues and have the capacity to differentiate into different mesodermal lineages. Angiogenic progenitor cells have also been found in the adventitial layer of large vessels. In the bone marrow, endothelial cells control hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) release, and in the brain, blood vessels regulate neural stem cell (NSC) self-renewal and neurogenesis. Similarly, perivascular progenitor cells have also been found in the heart. This intimate connection between stem cells and the vasculature contributes to tissue homeostasis and repair. In this review, we focus on the regulation of stem and progenitor cells in different adult niches by blood vessels and the few mechanisms that are known to mediate this interaction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Doctor Esquerdo 46, 28007, Madrid, Spain

    Maria Victoria Gómez-Gaviro & Francisco Fernández-Avilés

  2. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Doctor Esquerdo 46, 28007, Madrid, Spain

    Maria Victoria Gómez-Gaviro & Francisco Fernández-Avilés

  3. Division of Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics, National Institute for Medical Research, MRC, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, NW7 1AA, London, UK

    Robin Lovell-Badge

  4. Cardiovascular Development and Repair Dept., Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, 28029, Madrid, Spain

    Enrique Lara-Pezzi

Authors
  1. Maria Victoria Gómez-Gaviro
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  2. Robin Lovell-Badge
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  3. Francisco Fernández-Avilés
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  4. Enrique Lara-Pezzi
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Correspondence to Maria Victoria Gómez-Gaviro.

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Clinical statement

Full characterization of the stem cell niche is needed in order to identify the cues that direct their differentiation and self-renewal. Understanding the microenvironmental factors that regulate stem cell behavior and, in particular, those supplied by the endothelium, will allow the generation of more efficient cell therapies, moving from stem cell injection to more complex treatments based on bioartificial stem cell niches.

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Gómez-Gaviro, M.V., Lovell-Badge, R., Fernández-Avilés, F. et al. The Vascular Stem Cell Niche. J. of Cardiovasc. Trans. Res. 5, 618–630 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12265-012-9371-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12265-012-9371-x

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