Ex-Vivo Modeling of Leukemic Stem Cell niche: sub - classifying CD34+ population according to Quiescence

Abstract

AML is a stem cell disease with a hierarchy comparable to normal hematopoiesis. In parallel with leukemogenesis events, the niche provides an environment with signals that favor cell proliferation and growth. Recent line of evidences suggest that the tumor cells are heterogeneous and indicate that only a fraction of the tumor cells “the leukemia-initiating cells” (LIC) are mostly in a quiescent state and are responsible for the maintenance of the neoplasm. These leukemia-initiating cells have an immunophenotype that is more mature than that seen in normal HSCs but have acquired limitless self-renewal through oncogenic transformation, leading to the activation of a stem cell–like gene expression program. AML-initiating LSCs were shown to reside within the CD34+CD38– population (HSCs).