The Role of Cytokines in Experimental and Clinical Hematology

Abstract

Cytokines are a family of molecules especially important in the physio-pathology of hematopoiesis. Besides that, the interest in these factors is further increased by the fact that this area of research is certainly one of the most rapidly evolving and therefore most appealing of modern hematology. While until a few years ago cytokines were poorly defined substances, the recent advent of sophisticated biochemical approaches and the progress of molecular biology led to a precise characterization of these molecules. Moreover, the use of recombinant DNA technology made available several of these factors on a scale large enough for both extensive biological research and clinical investigation. As a consequence, molecules such as interleukins, interferons, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) are presently being thoroughly studied in order to clarify their role in the physiopathology and eventually in the treatment of hematological diseases. This review will be focused on a single aspect of this broad field which seems to be especially promising, that is, the therapeutic use of CSFs. CSFs are glycoproteins essential for sustaining the proliferation and function of granulocyte-macrophage cells.