Hematopoietic growth factors and the regulation of differentiative decisions.

Hematopoietic growth factors control the growth and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells and bind to specific receptors that are expressed on the surface of immature hematopoietic cells found in the bone marrow. Many studies have demonstrated that these growth factors stimulate cellular growth and division by receptor activation. More recently, it has become apparent that they also influence, either directly or indirectly, the process of cellular differentiation.