Mesenchymal Stem Cells/Stromal Cells

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The word stroma derives from the Greek and means mattress or bedding. Accordingly, large, spread-out cells that appear to provide a bed for hematopoietic cells are called stromal cells. Stromal cells are defined by their ability to support the development, proliferation, and differentiation of hematopoietic cells. How stromal cells support hematopoietic stem cells is a focus in the laboratory.

Stromal cells are derived from the mesenchymal lineage and are not of hematopoietic origin. Both stromal cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) adhere tightly to plastic in vitro and this property is used to isolate both cell types from bone marrow. MSC can give rise to all cells of the mesenchymal lineages, including bone, cartilage, adipocytes, muscle, and stroma. This extraordinary differentiation ability of MSC/stromal cells together with the ability to support hematopoiesis indicates that these cells will be ideally suited for applications in tissue regeneration and gene delivery.

There is considerable functional and phenotypical overlap between MSC. For example, many cloned stromal cell lines retain extensive mesenchymal differentiation potential- even after long-term culture propagation. Thus, many of the mechanism that control the establishment and function of the stromal cell compartment should be applicable to the MSC.

Mesanchymal Stem Cells/Stromal Cells

Stromal Cell Regulation of Stem Cell Maintenance

Establishment of Stroma: Role of M-SCF

Regulation of Stroma Function: Role of CD44