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GeneE
26 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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CSF2
colony stimulating factor 2
Chromosome 5 · 5q31.1
NCBI Gene: 1437Ensembl: ENSG00000164400.6HGNC: HGNC:2434UniProt: P04141
348PubMed Papers
20Diseases
6Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Hub Gene
RESEARCH IMPACT
Highly StudiedTrending
CLINICAL
Clinical Trials
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor signaling pathwaymyeloid dendritic cell differentiationnegative regulation of DNA-templated transcriptionpositive regulation of macrophage derived foam cell differentiationasthmarheumatoid arthritishepatocellular carcinomaneurodegenerative disease
✦AI Summary

CSF2 (colony-stimulating factor 2, also known as GM-CSF) is a cytokine that stimulates growth and differentiation of hematopoietic precursor cells across multiple lineages, including granulocytes, macrophages, eosinophils, and erythrocytes. The protein functions through JAK-STAT signaling pathways to promote myeloid cell differentiation and dendritic cell development 1. CSF2 plays critical roles in immune regulation and pathology. In autoimmune contexts, NKp46+ innate lymphoid cells produce CSF2 to promote monocyte-derived macrophage expansion, amplifying tissue damage in lupus nephritis 2. Similarly, pathogenic T-helper 17.1 cells produce CSF2 in immune checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis, establishing a feedforward loop with pro-inflammatory monocytes that drives autoimmune lung inflammation 3. In cancer, CSF2 facilitates macrophage-derived CXCL8 secretion in gastric cancer, contributing to immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments 4. Conversely, CSF2 elevation can promote beneficial M1 macrophage polarization in colorectal cancer treatment responses 5. CSF2 is also required for human M cell development in intestinal immune tolerance 1. Dysregulation of CSF2 signaling appears central to both autoimmune pathology amplification and tumor immune evasion, making it a significant therapeutic target.

Sources cited
1
NKp46+ ILC1s express CSF2 to promote monocyte-derived macrophage expansion in lupus nephritis
PMID: 39137897
2
Pathogenic T-helper 17.1 cells produce CSF2 in ICI-pneumonitis, creating feedforward loop with pro-inflammatory monocytes
PMID: 36171010
3
CSF2 facilitates macrophage-derived CXCL8 secretion and contributes to immunosuppressive microenvironment in gastric cancer
PMID: 30661053
4
CSF2 elevation promotes M1 macrophage polarization with antitumor effects in colorectal cancer
PMID: 40394236
5
CSF2, along with RANKL, is required for human M cell development and dendritic cell-like differentiation
PMID: 41372409
6
CSF2:CSF2RA cytokine-receptor pair is upregulated in dermatomyositis pathways
PMID: 37229703
Disease Associationsⓘ20
asthmaOpen Targets
0.49Moderate
rheumatoid arthritisOpen Targets
0.42Moderate
hepatocellular carcinomaOpen Targets
0.36Weak
neurodegenerative diseaseOpen Targets
0.29Weak
psoriasisOpen Targets
0.27Weak
COVID-19Open Targets
0.25Weak
atopic eczemaOpen Targets
0.21Weak
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.13Weak
melanomaOpen Targets
0.13Weak
colorectal carcinomaOpen Targets
0.12Weak
cancerOpen Targets
0.11Weak
myeloid sarcomaOpen Targets
0.11Weak
experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitisOpen Targets
0.11Weak
infectionOpen Targets
0.11Weak
liver cancerOpen Targets
0.10Weak
glioblastoma multiformeOpen Targets
0.10Weak
breast cancerOpen Targets
0.10Weak
sarcoidosisOpen Targets
0.10Weak
arthritisOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
in situ carcinomaOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Drug Targets6
GIMSILUMABPhase II
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor inhibitor
LENZILUMABPhase III
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor inhibitor
NAMILUMABPhase II
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor inhibitor
psoriasis vulgaris
OTILIMABPhase III
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor inhibitor
rheumatoid arthritis
PEXASTIMOGENE DEVACIREPVECPhase III
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor vaccine antigen
hepatocellular carcinoma
PLONMARLIMABPhase III
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor antagonist
Related Genes
CSF1RProtein interaction100%EPOProtein interaction100%JAK2Protein interaction100%IFNAR2Protein interaction100%IL6RProtein interaction100%IL6STProtein interaction100%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Lung
100%
Bone Marrow
91%
Ovary
0%
Heart
0%
Liver
0%
Brain
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
CSF2CSF1REPOJAK2IFNAR2IL6RIL6ST
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB6BFS · 2.00 Å · X-ray
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.62LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.85Intermediate
Observed/Expected LoF0.27 [0.13–0.62]
RankingsWhere CSF2 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #913of 20,598
    Most Researched348 · top 5%
  • #4,328of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.62 · top quartile
Genes detectedCSF2
Sources retrieved26 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
26▼
1
Development of a Chimeric Model to Study and Manipulate Human Microglia In Vivo.
PMID: 31375314
Neuron · 2019
1.00
2
Amplification of autoimmune organ damage by NKp46-activated ILC1s.
PMID: 39137897
Nature · 2024
0.90
3
BHLHE22 drives the immunosuppressive bone tumor microenvironment and associated bone metastasis in prostate cancer.
PMID: 36941015
J Immunother Cancer · 2023
0.88
4
Transcriptional and Functional Analysis of CD1c
PMID: 32610077
Immunity · 2020
0.80
5
Human gut M cells resemble dendritic cells and present gluten antigen.
PMID: 41372409
Nature · 2026
0.70