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Although the expression of PECAM-1 (CD31) on vascular and haematopoietic cells within the bone marrow microenvironment has been recognized for some time, its physiological role within this niche remains unexplored. In this study we show that PECAM-1 influences steady state hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) progenitor numbers in the peripheral blood but not the bone marrow compartment. PECAM-1(-/-) mice have higher levels of HSC progenitors in the blood compared to their littermate controls. We show that PECAM-1 is required on both progenitors and bone marrow vascular cells in order for efficient transition between the blood and bone marrow to occur. We have identified key roles for PECAM-1 in both the regulation of HSC migration to the chemokine CXCL12, as well as maintaining levels of the matrix degrading enzyme MMP-9 in the bone marrow vascular niche. Using intravital microscopy and adoptive transfer of either wild type (WT) or PECAM-1(-/-) bone marrow precursors, we demonstrate that the increase in HSC progenitors in the blood is due in part to a reduced ability to migrate from blood to the bone marrow vascular niche. These findings suggest a novel role for PECAM-1 as a regulator of resting homeostatic progenitor cell numbers in the blood.

Original publication

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0002338

Type

Journal article

Journal

PLoS One

Publication Date

04/06/2008

Volume

3

Keywords

Animals, Bone Marrow Cells, Cell Compartmentation, Chemokine CXCL12, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Female, Flow Cytometry, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect, Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Microscopy, Confocal, Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1