The process of differentiation from monocytes to dendritic cells is critical in immune modulation. Monocyte apoptosis is a key regulator in balancing the immune response. Galectin‑1 has been reported to induce tolerogenic dendritic cells by the autocrine interleukin (IL)‑10 in monocytes. However, IL‑10 has been found to induce apoptosis in IL‑4/granulocyte macrophage colony‑stimulating factor (CSF) stimulating and non‑stimulating monocytes, whereas galectin‑1 has not. After analyzing the factors secreted by galectin-1-activated CD14 monocytes isolated from the peripheral blood, the present study revealed that galectin‑1 upregulates IL‑10 and granulocyte (G)-CSF expression. Furthermore, G‑CSF inhibited IL‑10‑induced apoptosis, implying that galectin‑1 may enhance the immune‑modulating functions of G‑CSF by inducing tolerogenic dendritic cells and maintaining their survival. Therefore, G‑CSF may be further applied in immune therapy, particularly in the IL‑10‑presenting microenvironment.