Background information
Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a hematopoietic growth factor that is essential for proliferation and development of granulocyte and monocyte/macrophage progenitors. It also functions as a growth factor for erythroid and megakaryocytic precursor cells in conjunction with erythropoietin. GM-CSF is secreted by various cell types including T cells, macrophages, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts in response to inflammatory stimuli and cytokines. In addition, GM-CSF strongly chemoattracts neutrophils and eosinophils and enhances the effector functions of neutrophils and macrophages.
Downstream applications
The GM-CSF Secretion Assay can be used for the detection of viable GM-CSF-secreting leukocytes. Antigen-specific T cell immunity, e.g. in infection, autoimmunity and allergy, can be monitored and analyzed with this detection kit, as well as enumeration and phenotypic or functional characterization of GM-CSF-secreting cells. The GM-CSF Secretion Assay – Detection Kit (PE) can be combined with a second Detection Kit (FITC or APC) to analyze co-expressed cytokines.
