Signaling pathways regulating HSC

The signals governing self-renewal vs. multi-lineage differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are complex. Several key signaling pathways including BMP, Hedgehog, Notch, Wnt, TGF-beta and others play important but different roles during fetal hematopoietic development, normal bone marrow hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis. In this Spotlight, renowned authors have each concentrated on one of these signaling pathways and how it operates as part of a network with other pathways during normal and malignant hematopoiesis.

This Focus is dedicated to Prof. Ernest McCulloch who opened the way to modern stem cell studies and remains a vivid figure for all those working in the field today.