The BMP pathway: a unique tool to decode origin and progression of leukemia

During embryogenesis and development, stem cell (SC) fates are guided by intrinsic and environmental cues such as surrounding cells, matrix and soluble factors. During cancer development the maintenance and evolution of cancer stem cells (CSC) also depends on their microenvironment. This has been particularly demonstrated in the hematological field where the differentiation hierarchy from Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) is a model and in which the existence of CSC was first shown1-4. Among soluble molecules involved in SC fate, Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs) have been shown to both regulate self-renewal and differentiation during development5 and are emerging as potential regulators of CSC6-8.

Source: Experimental Hematology - February 22, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Florence Zylbersztejn, Mario Flores-Violante, Thibault Voeltzel, Franck-Emmanuel Nicolini, Sylvain Lefort, V éronique Maguer-Satta Source Type: research