<unk>  is a monomeric glycoprotein that functions as a cytokine—it is a white blood cell growth<unk> .<unk>  stimulates stem cells to produce granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils) and monocytes. Monocytes exit the circulation and migrate into tissue, whereupon they mature into<unk> s and dendritic cells. Thus, it is part of the immune/inflammatory cascade, by which activation of a small number of<unk> s can rapidly lead to an increase in their numbers, a process crucial for fighting infection.<unk>  also has some effects on mature cells of the immune system. These include, for example, enhancing neutrophil migration and causing an alteration of the receptors expressed on the cells surface.<unk>  signals via signal transducer and activator of transcription, STAT5. In<unk> s, it has also been shown to signal via STAT3. The cytokine activates<unk> s to inhibit fungal survival. It induces deprivation in intracellular free zinc and increases production of reactive oxygen species that culminate in fungal zinc starvation and toxicity. Thus,<unk>  facilitates development of the immune system and promotes defense against infections.<unk>  also plays a role in embryonic development by functioning as an embryokine produced by reproductive tract.
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor
Macrophage colony-stimulating factor
Hemopoietic growth factor
Erythropoietin
Colony-stimulating factor
Leukemia inhibitory factor
Thymic stromal lymphopoietin