Phase I will use a synthetic gene approach for high-yield expression of human uteroferrin protein in s. cerevisiae, and to assess its potential for hematopoietic growth factor (HGF) effects in stimulating bone marrow stem cells and for circulating progenitor cells to expand and to differentiate into mature hematopoietic cells. From clinical studies with other HGF's, patients under high-dose cancer therapy can benefit greatly from the higher number of hematopoietic cells stimulated by the administered factor. We have demonstrated that both human and porcine uteroferrin have HGF activity and can stimulate progenitor cells and to generate a wide range of mature blood cells than any known HGFs. Uteroferrin was demonstrated to be able to prevent the decrease of colony-forming units in 5-fluorouracil-treated pigs. These characteristics merit a further effort to develop uteroferrin as a hematopoietic growth factor to help patients under high-dose chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant and other blood-related dims.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
