SCFisastromalcell-derivedcytokinesynthesizedbyfibroblastsandothercelltypes.SCFpromotesproliferationandearlydifferentiationofcellsatthelevelofmultipotentialstemcells.IthasbeensuggestedthatSCFisessentialforoptimalproductionofvarioushematopoieticlineages,mainlybecauseofits
ABIlitytopreventapoptosiswhenitco-stimulateswithothercytokines.ThereceptorforSCF,designatedSCFR(CD117),istheoncogenedesignatedasKIT.The
BIOLOGicalactivitiesofSCFaresynergisedconsiderablybycolonystimulatingfactorsGM-CSFandG-CSF,andalsobyIL-7,Epoandsomeothergrowthanddifferentiationfactors.IncombinationwithIL-7,SCFstimulatestheproliferationofpre-B-cells.SCFisalsoapotentchemoattractantforcells,forexample,mastcells,expressingthekitreceptor.OneresponsetoSCFinthesecellsisacharacteristicrearrangementoftheactinfilamentsofthe
Cytoskeleton.