Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor activity in cerebrospinal fluid.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to analyse the presence of the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in human cerebrospinal fluid (SF) of patients affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) in comparison with non-inflammatory neurological diseases.


METHODS
All SFs were collected from 59 patients for diagnostic purpose. The presence of GM-CSF was revealed by measuring its activity and by immunoassay. The data obtained were statistically evaluated.


RESULTS
We found that GM-CSF is constitutively present in human SF; this presence was confirmed by its stimulating activity of colony-forming-unit granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) production. No significant changes of the GM-CSF concentration in the SFs were observed among different neurological disorders (degenerative or vascular) and MS.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that GM-CSF is a constitutive component of human SF, relatively uninfluenced by the different morbid conditions of the nervous system.
Leonardi
A
A
Department of Neurology, University of Genova, Italy.
Penco
S
S
Gramigni
C
C
Bason
C
C
Ribizzi
G
G
Gazzola
P
P
Mancardi
G L
GL
Bianchi-Scarrà
G
G
Abbruzzese
M
M
Garrè
C
C
D015153:Blotting, Western; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor