title: The hematopoietic factor GM-CSF (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) promotes neuronal differentiation of adult neural stem cells in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a hematopoietic growth factor involved in the generation of granulocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells from hematopoietic progenitor cells. We have recently demonstrated that GM-CSF has anti-apoptotic functions on neurons, and is neuroprotective in animal stroke models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The GM-CSF receptor alpha is expressed on adult neural stem cells in the rodent brain, and in culture. Addition of GM-CSF to NSCs in vitro increased neuronal differentiation in a dose-dependent manner as determined by quantitative PCR, reporter gene assays, and FACS analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Similar to the hematopoietic factor Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), GM-CSF stimulates neuronal differentiation of adult NSCs. These data highlight the astonishingly similar functions of major hematopoietic factors in the brain, and raise the clinical attractiveness of GM-CSF as a novel drug for neurological disorders.
authors.affiliation: Sygnis Bioscience, Im Neuenheimer Feld 515, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Krueger@sygnis.de
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Krüger
authors.forename: Rico
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laage
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pitzer
authors.forename: Wolf-Rüdiger
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Schäbitz
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor