Description
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF or GCSF), also known as G-CSF colony-stimulating factor 3 (CSF 3) is a colony-stimulating factor hormone. It is a glycoprotein, growth factor or cytokine produced by a number of different tissues to stimulate the bone marrow to produce granulocytes and stem cells. G-CSF then stimulates the bone marrow to release them into the blood. It also stimulates the survival, proliferation, differentiation, and function of neutrophil precursors and mature neutrophils. G-CSF is produced by endothelium, macrophages, and a number of other immune cells. It stimulates the production of white blood cells. G-CSF is also used to increase the number of hematopoietic stem cells in the blood of the donor before collection by leukapheresis for use in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation