Introduction to the hematopoietic growth factors

Abstract

The hematopoietic growth factors (HGFs) are an important class of biologic molecules which augment production and functional maturation of hematopoietic cells. As shown in Fig. 1.1, endogenous production of HGFs modulates a wide variety of both hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells derived from the myeloid stem cell including progenitor and precursor cells and more functionally mature cells. Clinically, recombinant or mimetic forms of these cytokines are utilized to reduce the severity and duration of hematologic complications resulting from impairment of granulocytopoiesis, erythropoiesis, or thrombopoiesis. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.