- Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) induces thrombopoietin from bone marrow stromal cells, which stimulates the expression of TGF-beta receptor on megakaryocytes and, in turn, renders them susceptible to suppression by TGF-beta itself with high specificity. Sakamaki, S., Hirayama, Y., Matsunaga, T., Kuroda, H., Kusakabe, T., Akiyama, T., Konuma, Y., Sasaki, K., Tsuji, N., Okamoto, T., Kobune, M., Kogawa, K., Kato, J., Takimoto, R., Koyama, R., Niitsu, Y. Blood (1999)