GM-CSF/CSF2, Recombinant, Human, Active

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is one of an array of cytokines with pivotal roles in embryo implantation and subsequent development. Several cell lineages in the reproductive tract and gestational tissues synthesise GM-CSF under direction by ovarian steroid hormones and signalling agents originating in male seminal fluid and the conceptus. The pre-implantation embryo, invading placental trophoblast cells and the abundant populations of leukocytes controlling maternal immune tolerance are all subject to GM-CSF regulation. GM-CSF stimulates the differentiation of hematopoietic progenitors to monocytes and neutrophils, and reduces the risk for febrile neutropenia in cancer patients. GM-CSF also has been shown to induce the differentiation of myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) that promote the development of T-helper type 1 (cellular) immune responses in cognate T cells. The active form of the protein is found extracellularly as a homodimer, and the encoding gene is localized to a related gene cluster at chromosome region 5q31 which is known to be associated with 5q-syndrome and acute myelogenous leukemia. As a part of the immune/inflammatory cascade, GM-CSF promotes Th1 biased immune response, angiogenesis, allergic inflammation, and the development of autoimmunity, and thus worthy of consideration for therapeutic target. GM-CSF has been utilized in the clinical management of multiple disease processes. Most recently, GM-CSF has been incorporated into the treatment of malignancies as a sole therapy, as well as a vaccine adjuvant. While the benefits of GM-CSF in this arena have been promising, recent reports have suggested the potential for GM-CSF to induce immune suppression and, thus, negatively impact outcomes in the management of cancer patients. GM-CSF deficiency in pregnancy adversely impacts fetal and placental development, as well as progeny viability and growth after birth, highlighting this cytokine as a central maternal determinant of pregnancy outcome with clinical relevance in human fertility.||Source:|Recombinant protein corresponding to Met1-Glu144 from human GM-CSF/CSF2, expressed in HEK293 cells.||Molecular Weight: |~14.5kD||Biological Activity:|Measured in a cell proliferation assay using TF-1 human erythroleukemic cells.The ED50 for this effect is typically 0.1-0.6ng/ml.||Storage and Stability:|Lyophilized and reconstituted products are stable for 6 months after receipt at -20°C. Reconstitute with sterile PBS. Aliquot to avoid repeated freezing and thawing. Store at -20°C. For maximum recovery of product, centrifuge the original vial after thawing and prior to removing the cap. Further dilutions can be made in assay buffer.