Description
Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) is a pleiotropic cytokine best known for its specific effects on the proliferation, differentiation, and activation of hematopoietic cells of the neutrophilic granulocyte lineage. It is produced mainly by monocytes and macrophages upon activation by endotoxin, TNF-a and IFN-g. Other cell types including fibroblasts, endothelial cells, astrocytes and bone marrow stromal cells can also secrete G-CSF after LPS, IL-1 or TNF-a activation. In addition, various carcinoma cell lines and myeloblastic leukemia cells can express G-CSF constitutively. Human and mouse G-CSF are cross-reactive