title: Serum cholesterol-lowering activity of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.
abstract: Human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a glycoprotein hormone that stimulates the growth of hematopoietic progenitor cells and enhances the functional activity of mature myeloid effector cells. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor was administered to eight patients with severe aplastic anemia in an attempt to restore adequate hematopoiesis. Profound decreases in serum cholesterol concentrations were observed during GM-CSF therapy that were not dependent on changes in the patients' peripheral blood cell counts. Serum cholesterol levels decreased by an average of 37% during treatment, reaching levels of less than 4.40 mmol/L in all patients. Serum cholesterol concentrations returned to baseline in all patients after discontinuation of GM-CSF therapy. Treatment with GM-CSF prominently alters cholesterol homeostasis in vivo, although the mechanism of this effect is unknown. Our results suggest that GM-CSF may be potentially useful in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and, possibly, in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine 90024-1678.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Nimer
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Champlin
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Golde
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors; D006133:Growth Substances; D014280:Triglycerides; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D002784:Cholesterol