WEB FOCUS

Riches in stem-cell niches

In this focus

In the world of stem-cell research, attention is increasingly focused on the microenvironments within an organism where stem cells reside - the stem-cell niches. There is now evidence that the molecular signals exchanged between stem cells and other cells within these niches are key factors in stem-cell control. Finding and identifying these signals has become a major thrust in stem-cell research.

In this web focus, Nature presents an archive consisting of research articles, News & Views and reviews of work in this burgeoning field. Three niche systems are explored: the spectacular fly gonad, the therapeutically important but inaccessible bone marrow, and the surprisingly adaptable neuronal niche. Produced with support from Abcam.

News Feature

Stem-cell niches: It's the ecology, stupid!

Powell K.

Nature 435, 268-270 (19 May 2005) doi:10.1038/435268a

Full Text | PDF (784KB)

Review

Stem cells find their niche

Spradling A., Drummond-Barbosa D. & Kai T.

Nature 414, 98-104 (01 November 2001) doi:10.1038/35102160

Full Text | PDF (909KB)

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Bone marrow niches

Letter

In vivo imaging of specialized bone marrow endothelial microdomains for tumour engraftment

Dorothy A. Sipkins, Xunbin Wei, Juwell W. Wu, Judith M. Runnels, Daniel Cote, Terry K. Means, Andrew D. Luster, David T. Scadden and Charles P. Lin

Nature 435, 969-973 (16 June 2005) doi:10.1038/nature03703

Full Text | PDF (381KB)

Letter

Identification of the haematopoietic stem cell niche and control of the niche size

Zhang J. et al.

Nature 425, 836-841 (23 October 2003) doi:10.1038/nature02041

Full Text | PDF (505KB)

Letter

Osteoblastic cells regulate the haematopoietic stem cell niche

Calvi L.M. et al.

Nature 425, 841-846 (23 October 2003) doi:10.1038/nature02040

Full Text | PDF (486KB)

News & Views

Stem cells: Interactive niches

Lemischka I.R. & Moore K.A.

Nature 425, 778-779 (23 October 2003) doi:10.1038/425778a

Full Text | PDF (75KB)

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Neural stem cell niches

Letter

Cell fusion-independent differentiation of neural stem cells to the endothelial lineage

Wurmser A.E. et al.

Nature 430, 350-356 (15 July 2004) doi:10.1038/nature02604

Full Text | PDF (473KB)

Letter

Astroglia induce neurogenesis from adult neural stem cells

Song H., Stevens C.F., & Gage F.H.

Nature 417, 39-44 (02 May 2002) doi:10.1038/417039a

Full Text | PDF (560KB)

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Drosophila germ cells

Letter

Differentiating germ cells can revert into functional stem cells in Drosophila melanogaster ovaries

Kai T. & Spradling A.

Nature 428, 564-569 (01 April 2004) doi:10.1038/nature02436

Full Text | PDF (536KB)

Letter

Hedgehog acts as a somatic stem cell factor in the Drosophila ovary

Zhang Y. & Kalderon D.

Nature 410, 599-604 (29 march 2001) doi:10.1038/35069099

Full Text | PDF (417KB)

Letter

Somatic support cells restrict germline stem cell self-renewal and promote differentiation

Kiger A.A., White-Cooper H. & Fuller M.T.

Nature 407, 750-754 (12 October 2000) doi:10.1038/35037606

Full Text | PDF (385KB)

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