Recombinant Fms-like Tyrosine Kinase 3 Ligand (FLT-3L) Proteins

FLT-3L (Fms-like Tyrosine Kinase 3 Ligand) is a growth factor protein that belongs to the cytokine family. Its name is derived from the leukemia-associated FLT-3 receptor, which is its primary ligand. FLT-3L plays a key role in the human body, especially in the regulation of the hematopoietic system.

One of the main functions of FLT-3L is to promote the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells. By binding to the expression of FLT-3 receptors in hematopoietic organs, it stimulates the differentiation of stem cells into different blood cell series, including red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. This is essential for maintaining the normal function of the blood system.

Due to its regulatory effects on the hematopoietic system, FLT-3L is potentially important in medical research and therapy. Researchers use FLT-3L to expand and regulate hematopoietic stem cells for bone marrow transplantation and treatment of hematopoietic diseases. In addition, research on FLT-3L also involves the pathogenesis of leukemia and other diseases.

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Key Role of FLT-3L in Hematopoiesis

Acts as a Hematopoietic Growth Factor: Fms-like Tyrosine Kinase 3 Ligand (FLT-3L) plays a crucial role in the development and maintenance of blood cells. It primarily acts on multipotent stem and progenitor cells, which are responsible for giving rise to various blood cell types.

Binds to FLT3 Receptor: FLT-3L works by binding to the FLT3 receptor, a type of receptor tyrosine kinase. This receptor is found on early-stage hematopoietic cells within the bone marrow and other related tissues.

Triggers Signaling Pathways: Once FLT-3L binds to FLT3, it activates a range of intracellular signaling pathways. These pathways help drive the differentiation of stem cells into specific blood cell lineages, such as:

• Dendritic cells
• Monocytes
• Lymphoid progenitors

Works in Combination with Other Growth Factors: FLT-3L doesn’t work alone. It often functions in synergy with other hematopoietic cytokines like:

• Interleukin-3 (IL-3)
• Stem Cell Factor (SCF): Together, these factors enhance the survival, growth, and expansion of stem and progenitor cells in culture or in vivo.

Supports Key Immune Organs: The effects of FLT-3L are most noticeable in immune-rich tissues, including:

• Bone marrow: supports overall blood formation
• Thymus: aids in T-cell maturation
• Spleen: helps regulate immune response
  In these areas, FLT-3L helps maintain a balanced immune environment by promoting proper immune cell development.

Crucial for T-cell and Dendritic Cell Development: One of FLT-3L's most important roles is supporting the generation and maturation of T-cells and dendritic cells. These cells are vital for detecting pathogens and initiating immune responses.

Valuable in Blood and Immune Cell Research: For scientists studying blood cell disorders or immune system dysfunctions, recombinant FLT-3L proteins offer a reliable way to influence hematopoietic processes in a controlled environment.

Application in Cell Culture Models: In lab settings, adding recombinant FLT-3L to cultures allows researchers to mimic natural growth signals. This makes it easier to:

• Expand specific cell populations
• Model disease pathways
• Test new therapeutic strategies

FLT3 Mutation and Its Clinical Importance

Mutations in the FLT3 receptor, especially FLT3-ITD (internal tandem duplication), are among the most common genetic abnormalities in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These mutations lead to continuous activation of the FLT3 signaling pathway, driving uncontrolled proliferation and survival of leukemic blasts. This makes FLT3 mutations a key prognostic marker and therapeutic target in AML research.

FLT-3L, while a natural regulator of FLT3 activity, can behave differently in mutant signaling environments. In FLT3-ITD or other FLT3 mutations, the biological response to FLT-3L becomes altered, and this shift contributes to disease pathology. As such, studying the interaction between FLT-3L and mutated FLT3 forms a foundational part of understanding leukemia development and treatment resistance.

Beta LifeScience offers active recombinant FLT-3L proteins for researchers interested in modeling both normal and abnormal signaling conditions. Our proteins have been tested for consistent bioactivity and are used globally in both academic and pharmaceutical labs working on FLT3 pathway inhibitors.

Applications in Dendritic Cell Expansion and Immunotherapy

FLT-3L is widely used in immunology research due to its ability to expand populations of conventional and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (DCs). These cells are crucial for initiating and regulating immune responses, making them central to vaccine development and cancer immunotherapy research.

In preclinical studies, recombinant FLT-3L has shown strong promise in enhancing antigen presentation by increasing DC numbers, improving the effectiveness of immune checkpoint blockade therapies. This makes it an invaluable reagent in translational oncology pipelines.

If you're working with recombinant interleukins, such as IL-2 or IL-6 proteins, pairing them with FLT-3L can lead to synergistic effects in immune activation studies.

Utility in Bone Marrow Transplant and Stem Cell Cultures

One of the most compelling uses of FLT-3L is in ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) for transplantation. When combined with other cytokines like SCF and TPO, FLT-3L promotes significant expansion of HSCs while maintaining their pluripotency. This approach is being investigated to enhance stem cell availability for bone marrow transplants in both malignant and non-malignant blood disorders.

Researchers often utilize in-stock recombinant proteins like FLT-3L, Noggin proteins, and BMPs to control differentiation pathways in stem cell culture models. Whether you're working on early-phase developmental studies or applied regenerative medicine, FLT-3L remains a key regulator of fate decisions.

FLT-3L in Cancer Research Beyond AML

While FLT3 mutations are primarily studied in AML, FLT-3L itself has broader implications across cancer biology. Elevated FLT-3L levels have been observed in various malignancies, including lymphomas and solid tumors, particularly in response to chemotherapy or immune challenges. Its role in enhancing antigen-presenting cell populations positions it as both a biomarker and therapeutic adjunct.

By integrating FLT-3L into cancer models, researchers can better understand the tumor-immune interface, especially when exploring resistance mechanisms to immune checkpoint therapies. If your focus includes other growth factor families such as BMPs or EGF, FLT-3L can provide an immune-regulatory angle to support more holistic investigations.

Quality You Can Trust

At Beta LifeScience, we’re committed to delivering high-performance recombinant proteins with industry-leading standards in purity, structure, and biological activity. Each batch of FLT-3L is produced in mammalian systems to ensure proper folding and post-translational modifications, resulting in consistent results across your experiments.

Our catalog includes a wide range of tags and species-specific versions to suit different applications—from human to murine models. Whether you need cell-based assay compatibility, SDS-PAGE validation, or endotoxin-free options, we’ve got you covered.

And if you're scaling up or moving toward translational applications, explore our bulk packaging and custom protein services designed for high-throughput environments.

Fast Global Shipping and Expert Support

All FLT-3L proteins are kept in-stock and ready to ship from our state-of-the-art facilities. We understand the urgency of experimental timelines and aim to reduce delays with responsive logistics and real-time inventory updates. You can also find reliable reagents through our full range of in-stock recombinant proteins, giving you access to everything you need in one place.

Need help choosing the right format? Our technical support team is available to guide your selection based on application, host system, or downstream assay needs.