title: Effects of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor on the levels of VLDL and LDL receptor mRNAs in vivo.
abstract: We investigated the mechanism by which granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) lowers plasma cholesterol levels. Recombinant human GM-CSF (rhGM-CSF) was administered to normal and Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits. Treatment with rhGM-CSF reduced the levels of cholesterol and triglyceride in these animals. In vitro colony assay for hematopoietic progenitors indicated that rhGM-CSF was capable of supporting granulocyte-macrophage colony formation in rabbits, suggesting that rhGM-CSF stimulates macrophage function even in rabbits. Northern blot analysis of rabbit very-low density lipoprotein (VLDL) receptor showed that rhGM-CSF elevated the levels of VLDL receptor mRNA 2.6- and 1.8-fold in muscles of normal WHHL rabbits, respectively, 1.5 hours after a single injection. Increases of 1.5- and 1.4-fold were observed in muscles of these rabbits after 5 days of administration. No changes were found in the LDL receptor mRNA levels in liver, spleen or bone marrow. These findings show that the lowering of lipids by GM-CSF may be mediated through the up-regulation of the VLDL receptor mRNA and the enhancement of macrophage function.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Fukushima Medical College, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishibashi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakazato
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shindo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maruyama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011817:Rabbits; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011973:Receptors, LDL; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D002784:Cholesterol