M-CSF Human Active Protein

The protein encoded by this gene is a cytokine that controls the production, differentiation, and function of macrophages. The active form of the protein is found extracellularly as a disulfide-linked homodimer, and is thought to be produced by proteolytic cleavage of membrane-bound precursors. The encoded protein may be involved in development of the placenta. Alternate splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2011]

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: Membrane protein, integral; Cytokine

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 1p13.3

Cellular Component: extracellular space; membrane; perinuclear region of cytoplasm; integral to membrane; plasma membrane; receptor complex

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

Biological Process: positive regulation of monocyte differentiation; ossification; macrophage differentiation; positive regulation of osteoclast differentiation; positive regulation of cellular protein metabolic process; positive regulation of odontogenesis of dentine-containing teeth; reproductive developmental process; osteoclast differentiation; positive regulation of multicellular organism growth; odontogenesis; cell proliferation; positive regulation of mononuclear cell proliferation; monocyte activation; homeostasis of number of cells within a tissue; positive regulation of protein kinase activity; positive regulation of cell proliferation; innate immune response; hemopoiesis; positive regulation of Ras protein signal transduction; positive regulation of cell-matrix adhesion; regulation of ossification; positive regulation of macrophage differentiation; inflammatory response; cell differentiation; positive regulation of cell migration