Abstract:
Dysregulation of the bone marrow niche resulting from the direct and indirect
effects of HIV infection contributes to haematological abnormalities observed in
HIV patients. The bone marrow niche is a complex, multicellular environment
which functions primarily in the maintenance of haematopoietic stem/
progenitor cells (HSPCs). These adult stem cells are responsible for replacing
blood and immune cells over the course of a lifetime. Cells of the bone marrow
niche support HSPCs and help to orchestrate the quiescence, self-renewal and
differentiation of HSPCs through chemical and molecular signals and cell-cell
interactions. This narrative review discusses the HIV-associated dysregulation of
the bone marrow niche, as well as the susceptibility of HSPCs to infection by HIV.
