Megakaryocytopoiesis: growth factors, cell cycle and gene expression.

Megakaryocytopoiesis is the process prior to the release of platelets into the blood vessel. It is regulated by a variety of cell-cell interactions and a number of cytokines with either stimulatory or inhibitory effects. It is the intent of this review to give an overview of the regulation of megakaryocytopoiesis in a comprehensive analysis of the most recent advances, with special emphasis on cytokines that stimulate or inhibit megakaryocytopoiesis and on the cell cycle and gene expression of megakaryocytes. A chapter will be devoted to the abnormal megakaryocytopoiesis in hematological diseases and, in particular, in myeloproliferative syndromes.