title: Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and G-CSF receptor expression in human ischemic stroke.
abstract: Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) receptor signaling counteracts detrimental pathways in ischemic stroke. In rodents, neuroprotection provided by the G-CSF system involves up-regulation of the G-CSF receptor and its ligand, G-CSF, during cerebral ischemia. The confirmation of a similar response in the human brain would be an important rationale for the use of G-CSF in clinical stroke trials. Therefore, the temporal and cellular profile of G-CSF and G-CSF receptor expression was examined in a series of human stroke brains. The median age of the 21 stroke patients was 67 years; median time from death to autopsy was 24 h (range: 10-67 h). In acute ischemic stroke, strong neuronal G-CSF receptor immunoreactivity was encountered in the infarct area and the peri-infarct rim as compared to the contralateral cortex. In subacute infarctions, microglial and macrophage G-CSF receptor immunoreactivity predominated, whereas chronic infarction was characterized by the presence of G-CSF receptor expressing reactive astrocytes. Neuronal G-CSF expression was encountered very early upon ischemic stroke. At later time-points, an up-regulation of vascular G-CSF expression in the peri-infarct area prevailed. In conclusion, the observed up-regulation of G-CSF receptors and G-CSF points towards a role in the pathophysiology of human ischemic stroke.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Münster, Domagkstr. 19, 48129, Münster, Germany. hasselblatt@uni-muenster.de
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasselblatt
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jeibmann
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Riesmeier
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maintz
authors.forename: Wolf-Rüdiger
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Schäbitz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D016188:Receptors, Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D020521:Stroke / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016188:Receptors, Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor