Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Analysis of the c-KIT Ligand Promoter Using Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
Published on: June 27, 2017
Role of c-kit/Kit ligand signaling in regulating vasculogenesis
Beate Heissig1, Zena Werb, Shahin Rafii
1Department of Transfusion Medicine/Stem Cell Biology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Mobilization into peripheral blood of bone marrow-derived cells including hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), is regulated by chemokines/cytokines. These cells can contribute to the formation of new blood vessels (vasculogenesis) under pathological conditions including atherosclerosis, wound healing and tumor growth. We will review how these cells are mobilized into circulation, and supplied to the sites, where vessel formation is needed (i.e. ischemic tissue or tumor bed). We will give evidence that matrix metallo-proteinase-9 mediated Kit ligand (Stem cell factor) processing is essential for cell mobilization induced by chemo-/cytokines, like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Placental growth factor (PlGF), stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1). These studies may provide the basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies for vascular diseases through targeting kit ligand mediated mobilization and homing of bone marrow-derived progenitor cells for cell therapy and cancer therapy.
Mobilization into peripheral blood of bone marrow-derived cells including hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), is regulated by chemokines/cytokines. These cells can contribute to the formation of new blood vessels (vasculogenesis) under pathological conditions including atherosclerosis, wound healing and tumor growth. We will review how these cells are mobilized into circulation, and supplied to the sites, where vessel formation is needed (i.e. ischemic tissue or tumor bed). We will give evidence that matrix metallo-proteinase-9 mediated Kit ligand (Stem cell factor) processing is essential for cell mobilization induced by chemo-/cytokines, like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Placental growth factor (PlGF), stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1). These studies may provide the basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies for vascular diseases through targeting kit ligand mediated mobilization and homing of bone marrow-derived progenitor cells for cell therapy and cancer therapy.
Related Concept Videos
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
Mechanism of Angiogenesis
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...
Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade
Activation of Integrins
In "outside-in signaling," external factors in the extracellular space bind to exposed ligand binding sites on integrins. This causes the inactive protein to undergo a conformational change to become active. Integrins are often clustered on the cell membrane. Repetitive and regularly spaced ligand binding events provide an effective stimulus.
Notch Signaling Pathway
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...

