Microenvironment and its role in acquire drug resistance of leukemia treatment

Bone marrow niche is the microenvironment where the leukemic cells residue and it support cell proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance by secretion of numerous factors including cytokines. When leukemic cells grow, they disrupt normal hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) bone marrow niches and create abnormal microenvironments. Also, niches recently have been linked to the development of drug resistance. One type of stem cell that resides in the bone marrow niche is called Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Two microenvironment niches have been identified in BM; Osteoblastic and vascular, these niches provide the area in where the leukemia cells can escape from the chemotherapy-induced death and acquire drug resistance cells. Moreover, this review highlight briefly the role of exosomes in cell-to-cell communication and progression. The interaction between BM and leukemia cells through different proteins including cytokines, adhesion molecule, signal transduction pathways and hypoxia are mentioned simply. MSCs have potential successful uses in regenerative medicine, but in this short review focusing on their potential role in supporting resistance in leukemia and the progress in elucidating the cellular components of HSC in BM. Correspondence to: Malak Y Qattan, Department of Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, King Saud University, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, E-mail: [email protected]