The granulocyte colony-stimulating-factor (G-CSF) is a glycoproteina which has been described for decades, and it is commonly utilized in the treatment of neutropenic states and bone marrow transplants. G-CSF stimulates hematopoietic stem-cels e crucially regulates the survival of mature neutrophils through a mechanism of apoptosis inhibition. Beyond its systemic effect, recently it has been shown its surprising activity in the central nervous system (CNS). G-CSF administration mobilizes bone marrow stem cells para systemic blood, and those cells cross the blood-brain-barrier e target brain's damaged area. G-CSF's activity in the CNS has been defined as multimodal, because additionally it has been demonstrated a direct neuroprotective action through different mechanisms such as antiapoptotic activity, angiogenesis, anti-inflamatory effect, and stimulation of endogenous neurogenesis. This paper sumarizes G-CSF action in the CNS and approaches its potential para use in stroke.
G-CSF; ischemia; brain ischemia; neuroprotection
