Methods of promoting the growth or differentiation of hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells by non-muscle type cofilin

Patent Number: 7,282,201

One of the biggest payoffs in biotechnology has been development of therapeutics that modulate the hematopoietic stem cells. For example, agents such as EPO or G-CSF have become block-buster drugs for stimulation of erythropoiesis or granulopoiesis respectively.

The current patent teaches a new way to stimulate hematopoiesis through administration of cofilin and sequences thereof. Cofilin is a protein which binds actin and is believed to be involved in disassembly of actin filaments. Therefore, given that cofilin is usually known for its role in the cytoskeleton, it is very interesting to see this patent in which a completely new used for this protein is described.

View this patent on the USPTO website.