title: Inhibition of GM-CSF production in fibroblast-monocyte coculture by prednisone and effects of rhGM-CSF on human lung fibroblasts.
abstract: Fibroblasts play a sentinel role in asthmatic disease. They are the main constituents of connective tissue and are increased in number in the asthmatic lung. They are also capable of secreting a diverse repertoire of cytokines and are able to be activated by pro-inflammatory cytokines and cell-cell contact. Previously we have reported that normal human lung fibroblasts (NHLF) can be activated by monocytes (U937) through cell-cell contact to produce GM-CSF. Here we show that GM-CSF production from NHLF activated by monocyte contact is inhibited by prednisone, a synthetic glucocorticoid used in the treatment of asthma. GM-CSF is an acidic glycoprotein that potentiates development of cells in the granulocyte and macrophage lineage and is secreted at sites of peripheral inflammation. The receptor for GM-CSF was found on NHLF by flow cytometry and was able to be up-regulated by interleukin (IL)-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and recombinant human (rh) GM-CSF. To test autocrine effects of GM-CSF on fibroblasts, rh GM-CSF was used in proliferation studies and was found to decrease fibroblast proliferation. Prednisone was used to block NF-kappaB activation and GM-CSF gene expression as well. These data indicate mechanism of action and treatment for cell-cell contact mediated inflammation of infiltrating monocytes with fibroblasts as seen in asthma and other diseases like graft versus host disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, P.O. Box 70622 Johnson City, TN 37604, USA.
authors.forename: S Matthew
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kenton
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Guha
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Krishnaswamy
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D019898:Autocrine Communication; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D011241:Prednisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016187:Receptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016328:NF-kappa B; D016187:Receptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D011241:Prednisone