Figure 4.

SCF binds with its receptor c-kit present on the surface of HSCs, which then activates downstream signaling pathways vital for the survival and self-renewal. Downregulation of SCFs decreases activation inherent to this pathway, leading to impaired HSC maintenance and function loss. The c-kit signaling activates PI3K/Akt pathway, an important regulator of cell survival. Consider that failure to induce AKT by SCF could result in increased apoptosis and reduced HSC viability. SCF also upregulates the MAPK pathway, a key cellular signaling network that controls cell proliferation and differentiation. SCF-deficiency disrupts this pathway and the differentiation of HSC into multiple blood cell lineages is impaired.