Recent Advances in Imaging the Structural Organization of Bone Marrow Hematopoiesis
ZHANG Yulei#, HUANG Bing#, WU Qingqing*
As the central organ sustaining lifelong hematopoiesis, the bone marrow operates under the precise control of a complex three-dimensional microenvironment composed of diverse cell types and molecular signals—collectively known as the hematopoietic niche. However, its location deep within opaque bone structures has long posed a major technical barrier to visualizing its architecture and understanding its dynamic functions. Over the past two decades, rapid advances in fluorescence microscopy—particularly the advent of confocal, two-photon and multiphoton intravital imaging, and light-sheet microscopy—have driven a conceptual revolution in bone marrow research. These technologies have enabled a transition from two-dimensional static histology to three-dimensional structural reconstruction, four-dimensional real-time dynamic imaging, and even whole-organ mapping. This review systematically outlines the evolution of these imaging technologies and highlights how they have uncovered the cellular heterogeneity, spatial organization, and dynamic regulation of the bone marrow niche in homeostasis, aging, and disease. Finally, this review discusses emerging opportunities offered by multimodal and integrative imaging approaches to achieve a holistic understanding of bone marrow structure and function.
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