M-CSF plays an essential role in the regulation of survival, proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic precursor cells, especially mononuclear phagocytes. M-CSF promotes the release of proinflammatory chemokines, and thereby plays an important role in innate immunity and in inflammatory processes. It also plays an important role in the regulation of osteoclast proliferation and differentiation, the regulation of bone resorption, and is required for normal bone development. On the cellular level, M-CSF promotes reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, regulates formation of membrane ruffles, cell adhesion and cell migration and plays a role in lipoprotein clearance (PMID: 29734839; 29679908; 28202039)