Abstract
Bone provides nurturing microenvironments for an array of cell types that coordinate important physiological functions of the skeleton, such as energy metabolism, mineral homeostasis, osteogenesis, and haematopoiesis. Endothelial cells form an intricate network of blood vessels that organises and sustains various microenvironments in bone. The recent identification of heterogeneity in the bone vasculature supports the existence of multiple vascular niches within the bone marrow compartment. A unique combination of cells and factors defining a particular microenvironment, supply regulatory signals to mediate a specific function. This review discusses recent developments in our understanding of vascular niches in bone that play a critical role in regulating the behaviour of multipotent haematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells during development and homeostasis.
Highlights
Recent advancements in vascular biology have increased our understanding and knowledge of blood vessels and their characteristics during various physiological and pathological conditions
This review aims to provide an overview of recent developments and contemporary understandings of the bone vasculature and its microenvironments
It has become increasingly evident that the bone vasculature is highly complex, heterogeneously composed of distinct blood vessel types, and endowed with specialized functions that control bone formation, haematopoiesis, and bone regeneration
Summary
Recent advancements in vascular biology have increased our understanding and knowledge of blood vessels and their characteristics during various physiological and pathological conditions. Blood vessels act as a transport conduit system and play important roles in organ development, tissue morphogenesis, inflammation, barrier formation, and wound healing [1,2,3,4]. Active involvement of blood vessels in the pathogenesis of a number of diseases suggests a fundamental need to understand these versatile transport networks in the body [5]. Blood vessels form an integral part of the skeletal system playing multiple roles in the maintenance of bone homeostasis. The essential role played by the bone vasculature during skeletal development [8,9,10] and fracture repair [6, 9, 11] has been an intense field of research. Recent technical advances in bone imaging have substantially improved our fundamental knowledge of skeletal blood vessels. This review aims to provide an overview of recent developments and contemporary understandings of the bone vasculature and its microenvironments
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