title: Colony-stimulating factors and host defense.
abstract: Colony-stimulating factors are growth factors responsible for the proliferation and the maturation of bone marrow stem cells to fully differentiated granulocytes and monocytes. In addition to their effects on hematopoiesis, some colony-stimulating factors prime mature cells for enhanced chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and killing in response to physiologic stimuli. The action of colony-stimulating factors is mediated by growth factor receptors on precursor and mature effector cells. The results of studies of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factors in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) suggest a possible therapeutic role for colony-stimulating factors in augmenting mechanism of host defense.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Weisbart
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gasson
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Golde
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000032:analysis; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis; D016184:Receptors, Colony-Stimulating Factor; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors; D006133:Growth Substances; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D016184:Receptors, Colony-Stimulating Factor; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor