title: Hematopoiesis: an overview.
abstract: Pluripotent stem cells in bone marrow are capable of proliferating (self-renewal) or of differentiating into common erythrocyte, megakaryocyte, myeloid, and lymphoid progenitor cells. During progressive differentiation, cells develop functional characteristics of their specific lineage and lose their capacity for self-renewal. A variety of growth factors, including colony-stimulating factors, stimulate hematopoiesis, and some increase the functional ability of mature cells. Understanding the characteristics of the various hematopoietic growth factors, especially the cells they affect, is essential to the oncology nurse's skilled management of patients who are myelosuppressed.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Unit, Stanford University Hospital, CA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: DiJulio
mesh_terms: D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000502:physiology; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000502:physiology*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology