Optimizing the niche conditions for maximal stem cell engraftment: human and animal model data

While animal models are ideal to uncover the biologic basis of pathologic observations and therapeutic interventions, whether such scientific findings, in reality, apply to patients is always an open question. The exceptional human data of Zweegman et al corroborate our murine findings and suggest that the novel mechanisms we describe may, in fact, apply to clinical hematopoietic cell transplantation.