Abstract
Bone marrow (BM) microenvironment plays a critical role in the process of leukemogenesis with the dynamic interactions between leukemic cells and cells of the bone marrow microenvironment. In the BM microenvironment, two kind of BM specific niches, “osteoblastic (endosteal)” and “vascular” niches, provide a sanctuary for subpopulations of leukemic cells to evade chemotherapy-induced death and allow acquisition of a drug-resistant phenotype. The key components and regulatory mechanisms (via cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules, and hypoxic conditions) of these niches contribute to the process of leukemogenesis. The understanding of the molecular pathways critical for microenvironment/leukemia interactions and the contribution of the BM niches to the leukemogenesis may provide a rationale for appropriately tailored molecular therapies targeting not only leukemic cells but also their microenvironment to ensure improved outcomes in leukemia. At the same time, the better understanding of the nature of hematopoietic stem cells, leukemia stem cells and their niches is expected to provide an alternative approach to the treatment of various serious diseases, including leukemia, in clinical practice.
