title: The regulation of megakaryocytopoiesis.
abstract: The process of megakaryocytopoiesis begins with the commitment of a pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell to a differentiation pathway that culminates in the release of mature platelets into the circulation. A variety of megakaryocyte precursor cells have been identified after stem cell commitment has occurred and these may be recognized by their morphologic or immunophenotypic characteristics. Megakaryocytopoiesis is regulated by a number of cytokines with either stimulatory or inhibitory effects and by a variety of cell-cell interactions. Some factors potentiating platelet development promote the proliferation of megakaryocyte progenitor cells, while others result in their maturation. Thrombopoietin, a cytokine with specific megakaryocyte maturational activity recently has been identified as the c-Mpl ligand, and it will be evaluated as a therapeutic agent in the setting of thrombocytopenia due to impaired megakaryocytopoiesis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, New England Deaconess Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Avraham
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Groopman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008533:Megakaryocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D013926:Thrombopoietin / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D013926:Thrombopoietin