Human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor: the protein and its current & emerging applications

Blood cells under a variety of conditions produce cytokines which regulate their proliferation, communication and functioning. The granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a hematopoietic growth factor mainly responsible for the proliferation of granulocyte-s and macrophages. It is a molecule of immense therapeutic interest due to its wide-ranging actions on immune cells. Recombinant human GM-CSF has been expressed, purified and characterized. It has diverse biological manifestations, which has led to its being explored for use in cancer therapy, AIDS therapy, as a vaccine adjuvant, in certain types of wound healing, promotion of collateral growth of coronary artery, usefulness in treating Crohn’s disease symptoms and in the management of a host of viral, bacterial and fungal infections. Newer therapeutic applications are also being unveiled. The physico-chemical as well as the biological features and the applications (current and emerging) of GM-CSF are discussed