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In vitro studies have identified six specific
glycoproteins as being able to stimulate the formation of neutrophilic
granulocytes and monocyte-macrophages. Of these, the four colony stimulating
factors, GM-CSF, G-CSF, M-CSF and Multi-CSF (IL-3), are quantitatively
the most active. The CSFs also have other important actions on these
populations including stimulation of mature cell functional activity.
G-CSF and GM-CSF have been in extensive clinical use for more than
a decade, most often to promote regeneration of granulocytic and monocytic
populations after chemotherapy and to elicit peripheral blood stem
cells as superior cells in transplantation.
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