Granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of cells of the neutrophil lineage by interaction with a specific receptor. Early signal transduction events following G-CSF receptor activation were studied. We detected tyrosine phosphorylation of both the G- CSF receptor and the protein tyrosine kinase JAK1 following G-CSF binding to the human G-CSF receptor. In vitro, the kinase activity of JAK1 was increased by G-CSF stimulation. Coimmunoprecipitation of JAK1 with the G-CSF receptor suggested a physical association which existed prior to G-CSF stimulation.