Anti-inflammatory effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.
The innate, unspecific immune response to bacterial and fungal infection is mediated primarily by neutrophilic granulocytes. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), an endogenous hematopoietic growth factor for neutrophils produced at the site of infection, is an integral part of this natural host defense. However, neutrophilic granulocytes also play a major role in the inflammatory response, resulting in tissue damage. Therefore, the indications for colony-stimulating factors in combating infectious diseases seemed to be limited for fear of their proinflammatory activity. In contrast to these concerns, G-CSF has proven itself to be an anti-inflammatory immunomodulator. Animal, volunteer, and patient studies have all shown that G-CSF reduces inflammatory activity by inhibiting the production or activity of the main inflammatory mediators interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon gamma. In conclusion, the body's G-CSF-regulated emergency recruitment of neutrophils is combined with a simultaneous limitation of the harmful inflammatory reaction. This unique pharmacologic combination of improving anti-infectious defense and inhibiting inflammation, opens up a range of new indications for G-CSF in the area of nonneutropenic infections.
University of Konstanz, Biochemical Pharmacology, Germany.
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D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor