New Culture Methods in Experimental Hematology

 

The ability to expand hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) ex vivo has broad clinical and translational potential, and there has been substantial progress in the development of advanced culture systems. Experimental Hematology offers a timely special issue “New Culture Methods in Experimental Hematology”, and two of the reviews specifically address the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment and ex vivo HSC expansion technologies respectively.

Busch et al[1] provide a comprehensive summary of the BM microenvironment, covering cellular as well as extracellular components and how these interact. The complexity and challenges of three-dimensional approaches to model the BM niche are described. 

The review by Meaker and Wilkinson[2] provides an in-depth analysis of ex vivo expansion of HSCs. This is a key technology for basic research questions and has the potential to improve HSC transplantation and gene therapies in the future. Along these lines there have been important steps taken to advance ex vivo HSC expansion, such as HSC agonist that are currently in clinical trials. Furthermore, polymer cultures have evolved as an important approach to expand HSCs. Unresolved issues, such as heterogeneity, the risk of clonal expansion and how the ex vivo expansion may alter HSCs properties are also discussed.

These are just a few highlights. Visit Experimental Hematology to explore the full collection of articles featured in this special issue and the editorial by Kristina Kirschner [3].

1. Busch, C., K. Nyamondo, and H. Wheadon, Complexities of modeling the bone marrow microenvironment to facilitate hematopoietic research. Exp Hematol, 2024. 135: p. 104233.

2. Meaker, G.A. and A.C. Wilkinson, Ex vivo hematopoietic stem cell expansion technologies: recent progress, applications, and open questions. Exp Hematol, 2024. 130: p. 104136.

3. Kirschner, K., New culture methods in experimental hematology. Exp Hematol, 2024. 139: p. 104617.

Blog post contributed by Charlotta Böiers (@boierslab.bsky.social) of the ISEH Publications Committee. 

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