title: Effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in cirrhotic rats with pneumococcal pneumonia.
abstract: A rat model was used to study the effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on the pathogenesis of pneumococcal pneumonia in cirrhosis. G-CSF or 5% dextrose in water was administered subcutaneously to cirrhotic and control rats before or after transtracheal infection with type 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae. In both groups, G-CSF significantly increased the total number and percentage of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) in peripheral blood (P < .002) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (P < .01). An in vivo phagocytosis assay revealed no increase in uptake of pneumococci by PMNL within the lungs of cirrhotic or control rats receiving G-CSF. G-CSF administered before infection did not protect cirrhotic or control rats, but G-CSF treatment after infection significantly reduced mortality in control (P = .04) but not cirrhotic rats. These data suggest that despite increasing numbers of circulating and pulmonary PMNL, G-CSF does not protect against fatal pneumococcal pneumonia in cirrhotic rats.
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Diseases, VA Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105-1873, USA.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Preheim
authors.forename: M U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Snitily
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gentry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor