Fig. 7.
A possible model for coordinated development of HSCs and liver.
LTR HSCs with CD34+/c-Kit+ generated in AGM immediately migrate to the FL. Factors including OSM that are secreted from hematopoietic cells induce maturation of hepatic cells as a metabolic organ. The hepatic cells, in turn, stimulate expansion and maturation of AGM HSCs to FL HSCs with reduced proliferation potential. The fetal hepatic cells provide a hematopoietic microenvironment suitable for expansion of AGM HSCs but not of FL HSCs. Accordingly, HSCs migrate from the liver to bone marrow, the final destination of HSCs.