Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor (GM-CSFR) (GM-CSFR)

The Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor (GM-CSFR) is a heterodimeric transmembrane protein complex primarily expressed on myeloid cells, including monocytes, macrophages, and granulocytes (UniProt P15509, P32927). It consists of a ligand-specific alpha subunit (CD116) and a signal-transducing beta subunit (CD131) that is shared with the receptors for interleukin-3 and interleukin-5 (PubMed PMID: 25130500). The primary biological function of GM-CSFR is to regulate the production, differentiation, and functional activation of hematopoietic progenitor cells into mature myeloid cells via the JAK2/STAT5 signaling pathway (StatPearls NBK538305). In therapeutic contexts, the receptor is targeted by agonists like sargramostim to treat neutropenia and facilitate myeloid recovery after chemotherapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (DrugBank DB00020). Additionally, because GM-CSF signaling is a key driver of pathological inflammation, GM-CSFR antagonists such as mavrilimumab are being developed to treat autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (PubMed PMID: 32518154). Safety concerns associated with receptor activation include bone pain and potential respiratory complications, while its deficiency is linked to pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.

Other names

Colony stimulating factor 2 receptorCSF2RCD116CD131GM-CSF-RCSF2RACSF2RB

Agonism of the receptor by recombinant GM-CSF (e.g., sargramostim) stimulates the production and functional activity of neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages (DrugBank DB00020). Antagonism of the receptor (e.g., mavrilimumab) inhibits the pro-inflammatory signaling cascade mediated by GM-CSF in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (PubMed PMID: 25130500).