Recombinant Human SCF Protein, Animal-Free

Stem cell factor (SCF), also known as c-kit ligand (KL), mast cell growth factor (MGF), and steel factor (SLF), is a widely expressed 28‑40 kDa type I transmembrane glycoprotein (1). It promotes the survival, differentiation, and mobilization of multiple cell types including myeloid, erythroid, megakaryocytic, lymphoid, germ cell, and melanocyte progenitors (1‑7). SCF is a primary growth and activation factor for mast cells and eosinophils (8). Mature human SCF consists of a 189 amino acid (aa) extracellular domain (ECD), a 23 aa transmembrane segment, and a 36 aa cytoplasmic tail (9). The ECD shows both N‑linked and O-linked glycosylation (10). Proteolytic cleavage at two alternate sites in the extracellular juxtamembrane region releases a 25 kDa soluble molecule which is comparable to the only form produced by Steel-dickie mutant mice (11, 12). An alternately spliced isoform of human SCF lacks 28 aa that encompasses the primary proteolytic recognition site (13). Within the ECD of the long isoform (corresponding to this recombinant protein), human SCF shares 79%‑87% aa sequence identity with canine, feline, mouse, and rat SCF. Rat SCF is active on mouse and human cells, but human SCF is only weakly active on mouse cells (9). Noncovalent dimers of transmembrane or soluble SCF interact with the receptor tyrosine kinase SCF R/c‑kit to trigger receptor dimerization and signaling (14). 

SCF assists in the recovery of cardiac function following myocardial infarction by increasing the number of cardiomyocytes and vascular channels (15). SCF is a versatile factor in the differentiation of many specific cell types like spermatogonial stem cells (16) and megakaryocyte progenitors (17). Apart from differentiation, SCF also can maintain stemness in cells. This is the case for human bone marrow mesenchymal cells, which require SCF and hepatocyte growth factor for maintenance (18). Hematopoietic stem cells similarly require SCF from surrounding cells in their niche to maintain their stemness and their progenitors (19). SCF has also improved protocols for continuous generation of cells in culture systems, like granulocytes and macrophages (20).   

For treatment of graft versus host disease, SCF is used in combination with other cytokines to generate myeloid-derived suppressor cells from human umbilical cord blood (21). SCF is also used to generate T cells for cell-based therapies, drug screening and disease modeling (22). In regenerative studies, SCF is applied in wound healing hydrogel as a means of increasing its adhesion strength and tissue regeneration (23).