Thrombopoietin (TPO or THPO), also known as c-Mpl ligand (c-Mpl L), is a cytokine that plays a central role in megakaryopoiesis by influencing the development and maturation of megakaryocytes and platelet production from hematopoietic stem cells. Expression of c-Mpl is restricted to hematopoietic tissues and cells, such as bone marrow, spleen,and fetal liver. Mutations in c-Mpl have been implicated as the cause of certain human disorders, including congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (CAMT) and thrombocytopenia with absent radii (TAR) syndrome.
