In vivo imaging of hematopoietic stem cells and their microenvironment

J Biophotonics. 2009 Nov;2(11):619-31. doi: 10.1002/jbio.200910072.

Abstract

In this review we provide a description of the basic concepts and paradigms currently constituting the foundations of adult stem cell biology, and discuss the role that live imaging techniques have in the development of the field. We focus on live imaging of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) as the basic biology and clinical applications of HSCs have historically been at the forefront of the stem cell field, and HSC are the first mammalian tissue stem cells to be visualized in vivo using advanced light microscopy techniques. We outline the current technical challenges that remain to be overcome before stem cells and their niche can be more fully characterized using the live imaging technology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Cell Lineage*
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • Environment*
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Osteoblasts / pathology*
  • Receptors, Notch / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Stem Cell Niche / pathology
  • Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Stromal Cells / cytology
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Receptors, Notch
  • Wnt Proteins