HEMATOPOIETIN SUBFAMILY CLASSIFICATION BASED ON SIZE, GENE ORGANIZATION AND SEQUENCE HOMOLOGY

The hematopoietins constitute a family of structurally related proteins that includes many cytokines, growth factors and hormones. We propose a classification for hematopoietins based on their size, gene organization and sequences; in addition, we further suggest that three cytokines, IL-11, IL-12 α chain and IL-13, are hematopoietins, and we place them in specific subgroups. © 1993.