Historically, the field of hematopoietic growth factor research began with the work of Carnot and Deflandre-in 1906 they suggested that the rate of erythropoiesis is regulated by a humoral factor found in the blood, namely, erythropoietin. From this comparatively early start, accelerating progress has been made in erythropoietin research, which demon strates the general trends in this field of study. Erythropoietin was purified to homogeneity by 1977 (from enormous quantities of urine from aplastic anemia patients). Subsequently, the gene for erythropoietin has been cloned (1985), and massive quantities of this growth factor have been produced for clinical trials (late 1980s onward). Erythropoietin has become established as a pharmaceutical product of great value in the treatment of a number of diseases, most notably chronic renal failure. Once the ligand had been cloned, interest turned to the erythropoietin receptor, which was cloned in 1989. Since then, structure/ function studies have been performed on receptor mutants, cellular signaling events down stream from the occupied receptor have been identified, and the specific producer cell types and molecular stimuli for erythropoietin production have been thoroughly investigated, as has the regulation of erythropoietin gene transcription. This schedule of events since the 1970s typifies that seen for a number of hematopoietic growth factors. Along the way, the hematopoietic growth factors have been recognized as members of the cytokine family of signaling molecules that are important in a number of different physiological and patholog ical situations (see below).
Edited by:
Anthony D. Whetton, John Gordon Imprint: Plenum Publishing Co.,N.Y. Country of Publication: United States [Currently unable to ship to USA: see Shipping Info] Edition: 1996 ed. Volume: 7 Dimensions:
Height: 254mm,
Width: 178mm,
Spine: 25mm
Weight: 2.350kg ISBN:9780306452383 ISBN 10: 0306452383 Series:Blood Cell Biochemistry Pages: 420 Publication Date:31 August 1996 Audience:
College/higher education
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Professional and scholarly
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Professional & Vocational
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A / AS level
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Further / Higher Education
Format:Hardback Publisher's Status: Active
Reviews for Blood Cell Biochemistry: Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors and Their Receptors
`Thoroughly recommended as a valuable source of information for a variety of specialists.' Comparative Haematology International, 1997