Description of Invention:
This patent relates to the stimulation of hematopoiesis, more specifically to the protection of hematopoietic stem cells from toxic agents, including chemotherapeutic agents and/or irradiation. The subject patent discloses specific fragments of vasostatin, and their application as stimulants of hematopoiesis in vitro and in vivo. Also disclosed is a method for stimulating the proliferation/survival of hematopoietic cells exposed to a chemotherapeutic agent or irradiation using these fragments. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for stimulating the growth or survival of hematopoietic stem cells with a fragment of vasostatin, in the presence of a growth factor.
