Three-Dimensional Arrangement of Human Bone Marrow Microvessels Revealed by Immunohistology in Undecalcified Sections

Birte S Steiniger,Verena Wilhelmi,Anja Seiler,Oleg Lobachev,Vitus Stachniss,Michael Guthe,Andreas Neff,Katrin Lampp,Rudolf Kirchmair

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0168173

Birte S Steiniger, Verena Wilhelmi + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0168173

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Journal: PloS one	Publication Date: Dec 20, 2016
Citations: 9	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Philipps University of Marburg, University of Bayreuth

Abstract

The arrangement of microvessels in human bone marrow is so far unknown. We combined monoclonal antibodies against CD34 and against CD141 to visualise all microvessel endothelia in 21 serial sections of about 1 cm2 size derived from a human iliac crest. The specimen was not decalcified and embedded in Technovit® 9100. In different regions of interest, the microvasculature was reconstructed in three dimensions using automatic methods. The three-dimensional models were subject to a rigid semiautomatic and manual quality control. In iliac crest bone marrow, the adipose tissue harbours irregularly distributed haematopoietic areas. These are fed by networks of large sinuses, which are loosely connected to networks of small capillaries prevailing in areas of pure adipose tissue. Our findings are compatible with the hypothesis that capillaries and sinuses in human iliac crest bone marrow are partially arranged in parallel.

Highlights

The microanatomy of the bone marrow has met with increasing interest in recent years
Haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs, [1,2,3]), plasma cells [4] and T memory lymphocytes [5, 6] have come into focus, because all these cells have been found to reside in special bone marrow microenvironments, so-termed niches
The results demonstrate the 3D structure of bone marrow microvasculature in 21 serial sections of the iliac crest and form a basis for further investigations in larger series of sections

Summary

Introduction

The microanatomy of the bone marrow has met with increasing interest in recent years. Haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs, [1,2,3]), plasma cells [4] and T memory lymphocytes [5, 6] have come into focus, because all these cells have been found to reside in special bone marrow microenvironments, so-termed niches. These niches are regarded to be primarily formed by sessile cells of local mesenchymal origin providing essential mediators for survival of the respective cell type.

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