Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor (MCSF) Human Protein

M-CSF: Cytokine that plays an essential role in the regulation of survival, proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic precursor cells, especially mononuclear phagocytes, such as macrophages and monocytes. Promotes the release of proinflammatory chemokines, and thereby plays an important role in innate immunity and in inflammatory processes. Plays an important role in the regulation of osteoclast proliferation and differentiation, the regulation of bone resorption, and is required for normal bone development. Required for normal male and female fertility. Promotes reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, regulates formation of membrane ruffles, cell adhesion and cell migration. Plays a role in lipoprotein clearance. Aberrant expression of CSF1 or CSF1R can promote cancer cell proliferation, invasion and formation of metastases. Overexpression of CSF1 or CSF1R is observed in a significant percentage of breast, ovarian, prostate, and endometrial cancers. Aberrant expression of CSF1 or CSF1R may play a role in inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, glomerulonephritis, atherosclerosis, and allograft rejection. 3 isoforms of the human protein are produced by alternative splicing.

Protein type: Cytokine; Membrane protein, integral

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 1p13.3

Cellular Component: extracellular space; perinuclear region of cytoplasm

Molecular Function: cytokine activity; growth factor activity; macrophage colony stimulating factor receptor binding; protein binding; protein homodimerization activity

Biological Process: macrophage differentiation; osteoclast differentiation; positive regulation of cell migration; positive regulation of cell proliferation; positive regulation of cell-matrix adhesion; positive regulation of cellular protein metabolic process; positive regulation of macrophage differentiation; positive regulation of monocyte differentiation; positive regulation of mononuclear cell proliferation; positive regulation of osteoclast differentiation; positive regulation of protein kinase activity; reproductive developmental process; transmembrane receptor protein tyrosine kinase signaling pathway