hepatocyte growth factor stimulates proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells , most preferably burst - forming unit - erythroid cells . the hepatocyte growth factor may be obtained from cells transformed with human gene sequences coding therefor . pharmaceutical compositions useful to induce the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells may contain hepatocyte growth factor as an active principle in admixture with a suitable carrier . the pharmaceutical compositions may additionally contain stem cell factor as an active principle .