CSF-1 as a regulator of macrophage activation and immune responses.
CRC for Chronic Inflammatory Diseases, Institute for Molecular Bioscience and Department of Microbiology/Parasitology, University of Queensland, Qld 4072, Australia. m.sweet@imb.uq.edu.au
Macrophage activation is a key determinant of susceptibility and pathology in a variety of inflammatory diseases. The extent of macrophage activation is tightly regulated by a number of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g. IFN-gamma, IL-2, GM-CSF, IL-3) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (e.g. IL-4, IL-10, TGF-beta). Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1/M-CSF) is a key differentiation, growth and survival factor for monocytes/macrophages and osteoclasts. The role of this factor in regulating macrophage activation is often overlooked. This review will summarize our current understanding of the effects of CSF-1 on the activation state of mature macrophages and its role in regulating immune responses.
PMID: 12894871 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]