Human bone marrow fibroblasts--an overview of their characterization, proliferation and inflammatory mediator production.

Bone marrow fibroblasts regulate hematopoiesis by interacting directly (cell-to-cell contact) with hematopoietic cells and by secreting regulatory molecules (such as GM-CSF, M-CSF, IL6 and LIF) that modulate hematopoiesis either in a positive or a negative manner. Several cytokines (such as bFGF, EGF, PDGF and TGF-beta) affect the growth of human marrow fibroblasts in vitro. Further in vivo studies are still required to clarify the role of marrow fibroblasts and their interactions with hematopoietic progenitors during myelofibrosis and leukemic diseases.