The Link Between Vitamins and Hematopoiesis: A Stem Cell Perspective

Abstract

Vitamins are well known for their essential role in maintaining organismal homeostasis by directly influencing the function of a variety of cells. Among the tissues crucial for sustaining life is the bone marrow, where the highly organized and demanding daily production of billions of new blood cells occurs through a process known as hematopoiesis. At the apex of the hematopoietic hierarchy lie hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), undifferentiated cells with multilineage potential that maintain themselves through extensive networks of cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic interactions. Despite considerable efforts to unravel these regulatory networks, the ways in which most vitamins influence the delicate balance of blood homeostasis remain largely unexplored. In this review, we summarize the current body of evidence linking vitamins to HSC metabolism and progeny, with a particular focus on preclinical findings that highlight the role of vitamins in maintaining hematopoietic tissue function. A deeper understanding of the contributions of vitamins to blood cell production could pave the way for innovative therapeutic approaches against hematological diseases.