Which of the following is an example of a myeloid growth factor used to stimulate white blood cell production?

Which of the following is an example of a myeloid growth factor used to stimulate white blood cell production?

• A. Erythropoietin
• B. Thrombopoietin
• C. Filgrastim
• D. Interleukin-2

Answer: (C)

White blood cell production is driven by myeloid growth factors that act on bone marrow progenitors to boost the granulocyte lineage, especially neutrophils. Filgrastim is a recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor that binds receptors on hematopoietic progenitors and promotes their proliferation and maturation into neutrophils, increasing neutrophil counts to help defend against infections in neutropenic patients. Erythropoietin drives red blood cell production, not white cells. Thrombopoietin increases platelet production from megakaryocytes. Interleukin-2 mainly stimulates T lymphocytes. So, filgrastim best fits as a myeloid growth factor that stimulates white blood cell production.

White blood cell production is driven by myeloid growth factors that act on bone marrow progenitors to boost the granulocyte lineage, especially neutrophils. Filgrastim is a recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor that binds receptors on hematopoietic progenitors and promotes their proliferation and maturation into neutrophils, increasing neutrophil counts to help defend against infections in neutropenic patients. Erythropoietin drives red blood cell production, not white cells. Thrombopoietin increases platelet production from megakaryocytes. Interleukin-2 mainly stimulates T lymphocytes. So, filgrastim best fits as a myeloid growth factor that stimulates white blood cell production.