Therapeutic use of cytokines to modulate phagocyte function for the treatment of infectious diseases: current status of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and interferon-gamma.
The innate immune system represents the initial arm of host defense against pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Neutrophils, monocytes, and tissue-based macrophages are major cellular components of this system. The potential ability to augment activity of the innate immune system has increased dramatically during the past 2 decades, with the discovery and development of cytokines. Four cytokines, namely granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), and interferon (IFN)-gamma, have received increasing attention as potential adjunctive agents for the treatment of infectious diseases. In various animal models of infection, therapeutic administration of each of the 4 cytokines has been shown to enhance pathogen eradication and to decrease morbidity and/or mortality. However, variable therapeutic efficacy has been reported in clinical trials conducted to date. This review summarizes the current status of the use of G-CSF, GM-CSF, M-CSF, and IFN-gamma in the treatment of infectious diseases.
Hübel
Kai
K
Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA and Department I of Internal Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Dale
David C
DC
Liles
W Conrad
WC
D000818:Animals; D023341:Chills / Q000209:etiology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000209:etiology
D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor