# Targeting Leukopoiesis: Pharmacological and Biotechnological Strategies for the Treatment of Leukopenia

**Authors:** Lyailya Baktybayeva, Altynay B. Kaldybayeva, Anastassiya Sokolenko, Bagila Tursynova, Assel Yu. Ten, Guldana Daulet, Erkebulan Svambayev, Mario Thevis, Valentina K. Yu, Khaidar S. Tassibekov

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines14030624 · Biomedicines · 2026-03-11

## TL;DR

This paper reviews strategies to stimulate leukopoiesis for treating leukopenia, focusing on pharmacological and biotechnological approaches.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of novel and existing therapies for enhancing leukopoiesis in patients with leukopenia.

## Key findings

- Current strategies include cytokine therapies, bone marrow peptides, and thymic immunomodulators.
- Emerging approaches target hematopoiesis regulatory nodes like stromal interactions and transcription factors.

## Abstract

Leukopenia remains a major clinical challenge associated with infectious diseases, oncological therapies, autoimmune disorders, and metabolic and iatrogenic conditions. Insufficient leukopoiesis not only increases susceptibility to infections but also limits the intensity and continuity of anticancer and immunosuppressive treatments. Targeted stimulation of leukopoiesis therefore represents a critical therapeutic strategy in modern biomedicine. This narrative review summarizes pharmacological and biotechnological approaches to leukopoiesis stimulation based on an analysis of peer-reviewed literature from major biomedical databases. Emphasis was placed on molecular mechanisms of action, clinical positioning, and translational potential of leukopoiesis-modulating agents. Current leukopoiesis-stimulating strategies encompass cytokine-based therapies, bone marrow-derived peptides, thymic and microbial immunomodulators, nucleic acid-based agents, plant-derived compounds, and chemically synthesized small molecules. Classical colony-stimulating factors remain the cornerstone of clinical practice; however, their limitations, including adverse effects and restricted spectrum of action, have driven the development of alternative approaches. Emerging strategies increasingly target specific regulatory nodes of hematopoiesis, including bone marrow stromal interactions, transcription factor signaling, chemokine receptor pathways, and immune cell differentiation programs. Advances in the understanding of leukopoiesis regulation have expanded therapeutic opportunities beyond conventional growth factor administration. Pharmacological and biotechnological targeting of leukopoiesis holds promise for improving clinical outcomes in patients with leukopenia of diverse etiologies. Future progress in this field will depend on the integration of mechanistic insights with clinical evidence to enable more selective, effective, and safer leukopoiesis-stimulating therapies.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** leukopenia (MONDO:0003785)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** infections (MESH:D007239), Leukopenia (MESH:D007970), autoimmune disorders (MESH:D001327), infectious diseases (MESH:D003141)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

13 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13023911/full.md

## References

254 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13023911/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13023911