Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor [CSF-1]

Abstract

This chapter deals with Macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), which is a survival factor for cells expressing the c-fms CSF-1 receptor that include macrophages as well as osteoclasts and immature dendritic cells (DCs). Interaction of colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) or (M-CSF) with its receptor is associated with important biological effects. Human M-CSF exists as an 85-kDa homodimer. In murine cells, only a 552-amino-acid form encoded by 1.4 and 4.5 kb messages has been found. Liver expresses a 1.4-kb species, heart and lung express the 4.5-kb species, and brain expresses high levels of both transcripts, while intestine lacked detectable transcripts. The CSF-1 gene is present as ..