Hematopoietic growth factors list with mnemonics

hematopoiesis schematic
Mikael Häggström and A. Rad [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

a. SCF (Steel factor): Multipontent stem cells

b. IL-3: Myeloid stem cells (“3” turned down looks like “m“)

c. IL-7: Lymphoid stem cell (“L” turned up looks like “7“)

d. GM-CSF (Granulocyte macrophage Colony stimulating factor): Myeloid lineage (Erythrocytes, Thrombocytes, Granulocytes and Monocytes)

Pharmaceutical: Sargramostim

e. G-CSF: Granulocytes (Neutrophil, Eosinophil, Basophil)

Pharmaceutical: Filgrastim, peg-filgrastim

f. M-CSF: Monocytes

g. EPO (Erythropoietin): Erythrocytes

Pharmaceutical: Epoietin-alpha, Darbepoietin

h. TPO (Thrombopoietin): Thrombocytes

i. IL-11: Thrombocytes (11 letters in THROMBOCYTE)

Pharmaceutical: Oprelvekin

j. IL-5: Eosinophil (E is the 5th letter)

k. IL-2: T-cells (“T” for “Two” and “T-lymphocytes”)

l. IL-4: B-cells (B4Basophill secrete IL-4B cell growth)

m. IL-6: Plasma cells (6 letters in PLASMA)

n. IL-15: NK cells (15 letters in GRANULAR KILLERS)

Some other roles of cytokins:

1. IL-8: Neutrophil chemotactic factor
2. IL-12: TH1 differentiation and NK cell activation
3. IFN-gamma: Inhibits TH2 differentiation
4. IL-4: TH2 differentiation and class switching to IgE and IgG
5. IL-5: Class switching to IgA
6. IL-10: Cytokine synthesis inhibition in NK and TH1 cells
7. IL-1: Lymphocyte activating factor


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