Measurement of KIT ligand/stem cell factor: clinical and biochemical significance

Stem cell factor (SCF) and its receptor KIT play an important role in vario us biologic phases, such as hematopoiesis, reproduction, and regeneration. It has been possible to measure both soluble SCF and soluble KIT using enzy me-linked immunosorbent assay since 1993 and 1995, respectively. Although t he significance of interaction of soluble SCF with soluble KIT has not yet been elucidated, in certain diseases proteins fluctuate in human sera. We f ound that serum SCF levels were fivefold higher in patients with chronic re nal failure than levels in healthy controls. We review the results of the a nalysis of SCF. In addition, possible pathologic mechanisms in various clin ical abnormalities and the clinical potential for recombinant human SCF are discussed. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.