Placental growth factor: What hematologists need to know.

Although first identified in placenta, the angiogenic factor known as placental growth factor (PlGF) can be widely expressed in ischemic or damaged tissues. Recent studies have indicated that PlGF is a relevant factor in the pathobiology of blood diseases including hemoglobinopathies and hematologic malignancies. Therapies for such blood diseases may one day be based upon these and ongoing investigations into the role of PlGF in sickle cell disease, acute and chronic leukemias, and complications related to hematopoietic cell transplantation. In this review, we summarize recent studies regarding the potential role of PlGF in blood disorders and suggest avenues for future research.