Hematopoietic growth factors

Hematopoietic growth factors have the ability to promote the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitors derived from hematopoietic stem cells in hematopoietic lineages. The common structural feature displays a four-α-helical bundle structure. The phylogeny and evolution of the molecular structure have been studied extensively. Receptors for most hematopoietic growth factors belong to type I cytokine receptors that do not have tyrosine kinase activity, and share common properties. The ligand-receptor binding triggers changes of the intracellular conformation of the receptor complex, and initiates multiple signaling cascades to promote survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Hematopoietic growth factors are classified into two groups, intermediate-acting lineage-nonspecific factors and late-acting lineage-specific factors. Clinical applications of recombinant factors and receptor antagonists/agonists have been well established.