Granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor and differentiation‐induction in myeloid leukemic cells

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Abstract
The granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) belongs to a family of hemopoietic growth factors regulating the production of granulocytes and macrophages. Murine G‐CSF stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of precursors of neutrophilic granulocytes and is also able to stimulate the functional activities of mature neutrophils. Among the hemopoietic growth factors, G‐CSF has an outstanding capacity to induce terminal differentiation and suppression of self‐renewal in myeloid leukemic cells. Murine and human G‐CSF's show complete biological cross‐reactivity across species and bind equally well to G‐CSF receptors of either species. Specific receptors for G‐CSF exist on all normal neutrophilic cells and have not been lost in the generation of primary human myeloid leukemias. This data indicates that G‐CSF may be a useful reagent in the treatment of myeloid leukemia, in hemopoietic regeneration and in increasing resistance against infections.