The Duke University Medical Center scientists claim to have found a growth factor which triggers the expansion and aids in regeneration of the blood- forming stem cells. The new discovery breaks the hindrance caused in the field of stem cells as the cells were supposedly non-expandable.

The haematopoietic or the blood-forming stem cells are very limited in number and used in various important processes, such as stem cell transplant, organ generation(although still research is going on) etc.

It was found that naturally-occurring growth factor called pleiotrophin aided in expansion of stem cells taken from mouse. The scientists also found that it had supposedly increased the number of stem cells in the body.

Further stating on the matter Dr. John Chute stated that the systemic treatment with pleiotrophin may have the potential to accelerate recovery of the blood and immune system in patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

It was further reasoned by Chute that in the process of stem cell expansion, the scientists were dreary of the fact whether the stem cells can turn malignant after treatment  with pleiotrophin and till now no such evidence has been corroborated in lieu of the same.

This procedure has an implementation in the area of cord blood transplants especially for the ones who do not have an immune-matched donor.