GM-CSF stimulates the late stages of hematopoietic differentiation of macrophages and granulocytes. In addition, GM-CSF has been indicated to profoundly affect the quality and magnitude of antigen presentation and allow for the differentiation of blood monocytes into dendritic cells in conjunction with IL-4.
 
rMamu and other Old-World primate GM-CSF cDNA (Genbank accession number AY007376) code for a 144 aa polypeptide precursor including a 17 aa signal peptide (resulting in a 127 aa mature polypeptide) that is 96.5 % homologous to human GM-CSF (Hutchinson et al, J Med Virol 2001, 65:561-565).
 
rMamu GM-CSF is produced as a mature polypeptide in E coli using the pET32 expression vector with an enterokinase digestion site to ensure the absence of extraneous residues at the aminoterminus.
 
Purity is verified by PAGE electrophoresis and the absence of endotoxin by LAL test.
 
Bioactivity of each lot is tested based on the induction of proliferation of TF-1 cell line. Biological activity levels vary from batch to batch but are generally of the order of 1x10^4 U/mg.