G-CSF

Alias: Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor, CSF3

G-CSF is a member of the IL-6 cytokine family. G-CSF is produced by activated monocytes, macrophages, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, astrocytes, and osteoblasts in response to infection and inflammatory mediators such as IL-1β, IL-17, TNFα, and LPS, as well as various transformed cells such as carcinoma cells and myeloblastic leukemia cells. G-CSF has been shown to have specific effects on the proliferation, differentiation, and activation of hematopoietic cells. G-CSF binding activates the JAK/STAT signaling pathway that results in the activation and mobilization of granulocytic precursors from the bone marrow and supports the proliferation, activation, and differentiation of neutrophils in the blood. Clinically, the use of G-CSF has been approved for several therapeutical applications including the treatment of neonatal infections, therapy of acute myocardial infarction, therapy in chronic autoimmune neutropenia, treatment of acute myeloid leukemias, Sweet’s syndrome, and AIDS. G-CSF has further been shown to be a marker protein for different carcinomas such as bladder cancer. (34, 75)