Hematopoietic growth factors--an overview

The hematopoietic growth factors are a family of glycoprotein hormones that regulate hematopoietic cell proliferation and mature blood cell function. The list of colony-stimulating factors and interleukins known to stimulate blood cell production is now quite long; these hormones are produced in quantity by recombinant molecular methodologies and most have entered clinical trials. We will shortly have the power to regulate the numbers and function of the circulating blood cells, and the challenge of the coming decade will be in dissecting how these growth factors can be used optimally in therapeutic practice. A central theme of their use will be the enhancement of host defense, opening an area of medical therapy of great potential to reduce the morbidity and mortality of cancer, infectious diseases and immune deficiency states.