Cell
Volume 147, Issue 5, 23 November 2011, Pages 1146-1158
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Article
Nonmyelinating Schwann Cells Maintain Hematopoietic Stem Cell Hibernation in the Bone Marrow Niche

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Summary

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) reside and self-renew in the bone marrow (BM) niche. Overall, the signaling that regulates stem cell dormancy in the HSC niche remains controversial. Here, we demonstrate that TGF-β type II receptor-deficient HSCs show low-level Smad activation and impaired long-term repopulating activity, underlining the critical role of TGF-β/Smad signaling in HSC maintenance. TGF-β is produced as a latent form by a variety of cells, so we searched for those that express activator molecules for latent TGF-β. Nonmyelinating Schwann cells in BM proved responsible for activation. These glial cells ensheathed autonomic nerves, expressed HSC niche factor genes, and were in contact with a substantial proportion of HSCs. Autonomic nerve denervation reduced the number of these active TGF-β-producing cells and led to rapid loss of HSCs from BM. We propose that glial cells are components of a BM niche and maintain HSC hibernation by regulating activation of latent TGF-β.

Highlights

► The TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway is active in dormant hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) ► Loss of the TGF-β type II receptor reduces long-term repopulating activity in HSCs ► Nonmyelinating Schwann (glial) cells maintain HSC dormancy by activating latent TGF-β ► Autonomic nerve denervation causes glial cell death and rapid loss of HSCs

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Present address: Department of Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA