Hematopoietic Stem Cells Are Uniquely Selective in Their Migratory Response to Chemokines

TLDR

Hematopoietic stem cell migration is poorly understood yet essential for transplantation and normal blood cell maintenance. The study examined murine HSC chemotaxis toward a broad panel of CC and CXC chemokines. Murine HSC were exposed to these chemokines to assess their migratory responses. HSC migrated only to SDF‑1α via CXCR4, despite expressing CCR3 and CCR9 mRNA, revealing a uniquely restricted chemotactic profile that likely underlies bone‑marrow homing and stem‑cell niche maintenance.

Abstract

Although hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) migration into and out of sites of active hematopoiesis is poorly understood, it is a critical process that underlies modern clinical stem cell transplantation and may be important for normal hematopoietic homeostasis. Given the established roles of chemotactic cytokine (chemokine)-directed migration of other leukocyte subsets, the migration of murine HSC to a large panel of CC and CXC chemokines was investigated. HSC migrated only in response to stromal derived factor-1α, the ligand for the CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4). CXCR4 expression by HSC was confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis. Surprisingly, HSC also expressed mRNA for CCR3 and CCR9, although they failed to migrate to the ligands for these receptors. The sharply restricted chemotactic responsiveness of HSC is unique among leukocytes and may be necessary for the specific homing of circulating HSC to bone marrow, as well as for the maintenance of HSC in hematopoietic microenvironments.