GM-CSF: Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor

GM-CSF – A modulatory cytokine in autoimmunity & inflammation

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Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is important in inflammatory, infectious, and autoimmune diseases. It can affect various cell types by promoting the survival, proliferation, activation, or differentiation of various hematopoietic cell lineages, such as macrophages and dendritic cells (1).

GM-CSF is a homodimer extracellular polyprotein, mostly known as a hematopoietic growth factor and immune modulator. The lungs are the major source of GM-CSF, and the majority of pulmonary cells can synthesize this cytokine in response to various stimuli (2). GM-CSF stimulates the development of early erythroid megakaryocytic and eosinophilic progenitor cells (3). GM-CSF also stimulates stem cells to produce granulocytes and monocytes to cope with infection (4, 5).

Proteintech’s Humankine® GM-CSF

Proteintech’s Humankine® GM-CSF is made from HEK293 human cells, conferring authentic glycosylation and folding in addition to superior stability and activity.

Product name	Catalog number	ED50	Purity	Citations
GM-CSF	HZ-1002	≤2 ng/mL	>95%	8

Animal-free recombinant proteins Humankine® products are created in HEK293 cells using animal-free components. Our human expression system ensures that proteins have native conformation and post-translational modifications to optimize biological activity.
Animal-free Lyophilized and Carrier Free (CF)	Expressed in human cells Endotoxin free

Proteintech’s Humankine® GM-CSF is produced in a human cell expression system in serum-free, chemically defined media (Figure 1). It has demonstrated a greater stability under cell culture conditions, making it ideal for the efficient generation of human type specific cells such as dendritic cells from peripheral blood progenitors. Recombinant Proteintech Human GM-CSF is a 15 to 36 kDa protein consisting of 128 amino acids, containing two intramolecular disulfide bonds and two potential N-linked glycosylation sites (Figure 2).

 

Figure 1. The activity was determined by the dose-dependent stimulation of the proliferation of human TF-1 cells (human erythroleukemic indicator cell line) using a Promega CellTiter96® Aqueous Non-Radioactive Cell Proliferation Assay.

 

Figure 2. The protein was resolved by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the gel was stained with Coomassie blue. R represents the reduced condition and NR represents the non-reduced condition.

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GM-CSF role in leukemia and breast cancer - Proteintech’s Humankine® GM-CSF

Proteintech’s Humankine® GM-CSF was used in a study showing the potential treatment of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia with a GM-CSF-neutralizing antibody and JAK2 inhibitors (6). Additionally, it has been cited in a phase 1 study for HER2-expressing breast cancer patients (7).

Little is still known about how GM-CSF production is regulated in T lymphocytes. Does GM-CSF produced by T cells play a role in regulating the differentiation and function of antigen-presenting cells? Even more importantly, can T cells respond directly to GM-CSF? Working with Proteintech’s GM-CSFHumankine might help to answer such questions, in addition to making it possible to better define its further clinical applications.

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Related resources

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2. Benefits of HumanKine® recombinant proteins for clinical applications

3. Proteintech announces an agreement to acquire HumanZyme, a leading manufacturer of recombinant human proteins

4. Proteintech's recombinant proteins product line
   

5. HumanKine® Cytokines and Growth Factors

6. Human serum albumin’s importance in biology and biotech

7. Recombinant human protein Activin A: An Alpha in the TGF Beta Family

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References

1. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and T-cell responses: what we do and don't know.

2. GM-CSF: An Immune Modulatory Cytokine that can Suppress Autoimmunity.

3. The granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factors.

4. Human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor is a neutrophil activator.

5. Purified human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor: direct action on neutrophils.

6. GM-CSF-dependent pSTAT5 sensitivity is a feature with therapeutic potential in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.

7. A phase 1 study of a heterologous prime-boost vaccination involving a truncated HER2 sequence in patients with HER2-expressing breast cancer.