THE ROLE OF HYALURONIC ACID, CD44 AND OSTEOPONTIN IN HAEMOPOIETIC STEM CELL BIOLOGY

Abstract

Marrow and microenvironmental cell (MC) interactions play a central role in bone marrow (BM) cell localisation and regulation. Specifically, the regulation of primitive blood cells (HSC) is affected by their locality and their expression of a wide repertoire of cell adhesion molecules. This project is based upon the unique observations made in the applicants laboratory demonstrating that the three molecules hyaluronic acid (HA), CD44 and osteopontin play key roles in the localisation of HSC within the BM following transplantation and in regulating their development into mature blood cells. Encapsulating the concept of highly specific, local interactions regulating blood cells is the 'niche' ..