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Reference.org
Macrophage colony-stimulating factor
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<p>The colony stimulating factor 1 (CSF1), also known as macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), is a secreted <a href="/facts/Cytokine/SdWpWABH">cytokine</a> which causes <a href="/facts/Hematopoietic_stem_cells/RQNE9IRu">hematopoietic stem cells</a> to differentiate into <a href="/facts/Macrophages/z7hkQu3o">macrophages</a> or other related cell types. Eukaryotic cells also produce M-CSF in order to combat intercellular viral infection. It is one of the three experimentally described <a href="/facts/Colony-stimulating_factor/D0SzkBc2">colony-stimulating factors</a>. M-CSF binds to the <a href="/facts/Colony_stimulating_factor_1_receptor/Av3kpU8F">colony stimulating factor 1 receptor</a>. It may also be involved in development of the <a href="/facts/Placenta/7XUoks1b">placenta</a>. </p>