Mounting evidence suggests osteoblasts, the bone-forming cell of stromal cell population, takes an essential role in the creation of a hematopoietic stem cell niche and thereby regulate stem cell maintenance, proliferation, and maturation. 此外,越来越多的研究证实骨髓基质细胞中的成骨细胞除了成骨的作用外,其还是造血干细胞龛的重要组成部分,对造血干细胞的维持、增殖、成熟起了重要的作用。