Description
FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FLT3L) acts as a growth factor that increases the number of immune cells (lymphocytes (B cells and T cells)) by activating the hematopoietic progenitors. It binds to FLT3 (CD135) which is found on multipotent progenitor (MPP) and common lymphoid progenitor (CLP) cells in mice. FLT3L induces the mobilization of the hematopoietic progenitors and stem cells in vivo which may help the system to kill cancer cells. FLT3L is crucial for steady-state pDC (plasmacytoid dendritic cells) and cDC (classical dendritic cells) development. Deficiency of FLT3L causes a dramatic decrease in DC numbers, whereas increasing its availability increase in DC numbers