Transforming growth factor-beta: pleiotropic role in the regulation of hematopoiesis.
Hematopoiesis is a remarkable cell-renewal process that leads to the continuous generation of large numbers of multiple mature cell types, starting from a relatively small stem cell compartment. A highly complex but efficient regulatory network is necessary to tightly control this production and to maintain the hematopoietic tissue in homeostasis. During the last 3 decades, constantly growing numbers of molecules involved in this regulation have been identified. They include soluble cytokines and growth factors, cell-cell interaction molecules, and extracellular matrix components, which provide a multifunctional scaffolding specific for each tissue. The cloning of numerous growth factors and their mass production have led to their possible use for both fundamental research and clinical application.
Fortunel
N O
NO
Laboratoire de Biologie des Cellules Souches Somatiques Humaines, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Villejuif, France.
Hatzfeld
A
A
Hatzfeld
J A
JA
D000818:Animals; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology*
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta