Flt3-Ligand, Sf9 Protein

Background

FLT3 (Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3), also known as CD135, is a cell-surface receptor primarily expressed on hematopoietic progenitor cells in the bone marrow and on certain immune cells, such as dendritic cells. Classified as a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), FLT3 belongs to the type III RTK family, which also includes the KIT, PDGFR, and CSF1R proteins. FLT3 plays a central role in the regulation of hematopoiesis by promoting the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). The FLT3 ligand (FLT3L) is the primary growth factor that binds to and activates FLT3, resulting in downstream signaling essential for immune cell development. FLT3 has attracted significant scientific interest due to its implication in hematologic malignancies, especially acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Mutations in the FLT3 gene, particularly internal tandem duplications (ITDs) and point mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain (TKD), are common in AML and are associated with a poor prognosis. Consequently, FLT3 is a prominent target in therapeutic research, with several FLT3 inhibitors under development or in clinical use for the treatment of FLT3-mutated AML.