If the body's ability to produce new, healthy blood cells is disrupted, life-threatening infection or bleeding can occur. In the late 1940s, researchers discovered that a protein called erythropoeitin stimulates the production of red blood cells. Twenty years later, researchers in Australia and Israel identified proteins that stimulate the production and maturation of white blood cells. Colony-stimulating factors are being used increasingly in the treatment of bone marrow transplant patients. Colony-stimulating factors are produced by many cells in the body.
Cytokines are proteins produced by one cell that influence the behavior of other cells.
Advances in biotechnology, now make it possible to produce CSFs in the laboratory. Those of potential importance to BMT patients are shown in the chart on the left. Nonetheless, CSFs appear to play an important role in accelerating the recovery of many BMT patients. Colony Stimulating Factors Advances in biotechnology now make it possible to produce CSFs in the laboratory. Without white blood cells, BMT patients are at risk of developing severe, life-threatening infections.