Description
Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor is a 22 kD, pleiotropic cytokine that is a white blood cell growth factor. It controls the production and function of blood cells by stimulating stem cells to produce granulocytes and monocytes. GM-CSF differs from G-CSF in that it affects more cell types including macrophages and eosinophils. Moreover, GM-CSF is part of the immune/inflammatory cascade, a process crucial for fighting infection. Interestingly, GM-CSF expression may have pathological implications. Autocrine expression of GM-CSF in myeloid leukemia cells is suspected to play a role in neoplasia, the formation of a new and abnormal growth of tissue. Additionally, GM-CSF expression has also been documented in certain solid tumors. There have also been reports of GM-CSF in synovial fluid from patients with arthritis suggesting that GM-CSF may play a role in tissue damage associated with the inflammatory process. Blocking GM-CSF is thought to have therapeutic potential by reducing inflammation. Some drugs are currently being developed to block GM-CSF