Ace the Oncology Nursing Game: 2025 Chemo-Bio Certification Practice Test Adventure!

Colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) play a critical role in the immune system by stimulating the production of blood cells, particularly lymphocytes, which are vital for immune responses. These proteins are secreted by various cells, including macrophages and endothelial cells, and they act on bone marrow to promote the proliferation and differentiation of progenitor cells into mature blood cells.

By enhancing the production of lymphocytes, colony-stimulating factors help ensure a sufficient supply of these crucial immune cells. Lymphocytes, which include T cells and B cells, are essential for recognizing and responding to pathogens, thereby playing an important role in both the adaptive and innate immune responses. Their increased production can be particularly beneficial during times of stress, infection, or after chemotherapy, where the level of immune cells may be diminished.

The other options, while related to immune function, do not accurately represent the primary action of colony-stimulating factors. For example, while B cell activation and differentiation are important processes in the immune response, they are specifically regulated by different cytokines and signals, rather than being a direct action of CSFs. Similarly, the inhibition of viral replication is typically influenced by other components of the immune system and antiviral agents, rather than through the action of