The role of transferrin receptors in hemopoietic cell growth.

The Tf receptor is a prototypical cell surface nutrient receptor critical for growth of both normal and malignant blood cells. Because of the apparently universal requirement of growing blood cells for Fe, control of Tf receptor expression and function will continue to be a topic of considerable interest in experimental hematology and tumor cell biology. Studies of Tf receptor gene expression have already revealed unique patterns of gene regulation, and understanding control of Tf receptor gene expression during hemopoietic cell growth and differentiation may provide insights into factors controlling expression of other proliferation-related genes. Although much further study is required, early studies suggest that measuring serum Tf receptor and Tf-Tf receptor complexes may be a major advance in clinical assessment of erythropoiesis. Whether altering Tf receptor protein function or gene expression can be exploited to treat hematologic tumors remains unclear, but further studies are in progress.