granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a protein in your body that helps produce and activate certain immune cells, specifically granulocytes and macrophages, which are vital for fighting infections. It acts as a messenger, signaling your bone marrow to produce more of these cells when needed, such as during infections or inflammation. GM-CSF can also enhance the functionality of these immune cells, improving your immune response. In medicine, it’s sometimes used as a therapy to boost white blood cell counts in patients undergoing treatments like chemotherapy, helping them recover their immune defenses more quickly.