TPO

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Thrombopoietin stimulates precursor cells in the bone marrow to differentiate into megakaryocytes. Megakaryocytes generate platelets, essential to blood clotting.   Circulating platelets are covered with receptors for TPO and so are megakaryocytes and their precursors, but there are fewer of them. When platelet counts are high, most of the circulating TPO is bound to the platelets and less is left to stimulate megakaryocytes. When platelet counts drop, more TPO becomes available to stimulate megakaryocytes to replenish the platelet supply.

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