The biology of stem cell factor, a new hematopietic growth factor involved in stem cell regulation

Abstract

Recently, a new hematopoietic growth factor, stem cell factor, the ligand for the c-kit-proto-oncogene, has been cloned. The gene for this factor or for its receptor are deleted in two well known series of mice mutants which display pleiotropic stem cell defects. Therefore, this factor supposedly plays an important role in stem cell biology. This paper reviews some of the elegant genetic work which led to the discovery of the factor and of its receptor, the biological effects that this factor exerts in the hematopoietic system in normal individuals and in patients with Diamond-Blackfan anemia and speculates on some of its potential clinical applications.

Granulocyte-colony Stimulating Factor in Combination with Stem Cell Factor Confers Greater Neuroprotection after Hypoxic–Ischemic Brain Damage in the Neonatal Rats than a Solitary Treatment

“…Clinically, increasing evidences have shown the therapeutic potential of G-CSF and SCF in patients with ischemic stroke [8, 18, 43]. SCF has been found to stimulate early pluripotent and committed stem cells to form colony-forming units and act synergistically with other growth factors such as GCSF to increase the production of hematopoietic cells [44, 45]. Previous findings have also reported G-CSF’s ability to reduce lesion volumes and improve neurological outcome at 48 hours after cerebral ischemia in rodents [21, 46].…”

Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor and Stem Cell Factor Improve Contractile Reserve of the Infarcted Left Ventricle Independent of Restoring Muscle Mass

“…Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in combination with SCF was also found to mobilize primitive bone marrow cells in splenectomized mice (5). Stem cell factor stimulates early pluripotent and committed stem cells to form colony-forming units and can act synergistically with other growth factors, such as IL-1, IL-3, IL-6, GM-CSF, G-CSF, and erythropoietin to increase the production of hematopoietic cells (6,7). Several studies have shown that G-CSF improves cardiac function and left ventricular (LV) remodeling after MI (5,8 -10).…”

Human artificial chromosome vectors meet stem cells

“…Since the first discovery of hematopoietic stem cells of mice (69), there have been significant advances in identification, purification, in vitro expansion and genetic manipulation of various stem cells from different tissues (70)(71)(72)(73)(74)(75)(76)(77)(78). Since the first discovery of hematopoietic stem cells of mice (69), there have been significant advances in identification, purification, in vitro expansion and genetic manipulation of various stem cells from different tissues (70)(71)(72)(73)(74)(75)(76)(77)(78).…”