title: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor is required for bronchial eosinophilia in a murine model of allergic airway inflammation.
abstract: GM-CSF plays an important role in inflammation by promoting the production, activation, and survival of granulocytes and macrophages. In this study, GM-CSF knockout (GM-CSF(-/-)) mice were used to investigate the role of GM-CSF in a model of allergic airway inflammation. In allergic GM-CSF(-/-) mice, eosinophil recruitment to the airways showed a striking pattern, with eosinophils present in perivascular areas, but almost completely absent in peribronchial areas, whereas in wild-type mice, eosinophil infiltration appeared in both areas. In the GM-CSF(-/-) mice, mucus production in the airways was also reduced, and eosinophil numbers were markedly reduced in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)(3) fluid. IL-5 production was reduced in the lung tissue and BAL fluid of GM-CSF(-/-) mice, but IL-4 and IL-13 production, airway hyperresponsiveness, and serum IgE levels were not affected. The presence of eosinophils in perivascular but not peribronchial regions was suggestive of a cell migration defect in the airways of GM-CSF(-/-) mice. The CCR3 agonists CCL5 (RANTES) and CCL11 (eotaxin-1) were expressed at similar levels in GM-CSF(-/-) and wild-type mice. However, IFN-gamma mRNA and protein were increased in the lung tissue and BAL fluid in GM-CSF(-/-) mice, as were mRNA levels of the IFN-gamma-inducible chemokines CXCL9 (Mig), CXCL10 (IP-10), and CXCL11 (I-Tac). Interestingly, these IFN-gamma-inducible chemokines are natural antagonists of CCR3, suggesting that their overproduction in GM-CSF(-/-) mice contributes to the lack of airway eosinophils. These findings demonstrate distinctive abnormalities to a model of allergic asthma in the absence of GM-CSF.
authors.affiliation: Immunology and Inflammation Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, New South Wales 2010, Australia.
authors.forename: Yung-Chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rolph
authors.forename: Nicole G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Hansbro
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Mackay
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Sewell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001980:Bronchi / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D054371:Chemokine CXCL11 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D054370:Chemokine CXCL9 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011657:Pulmonary Eosinophilia / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D054397:Receptors, CCR3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C515351:Ccr3 protein, mouse; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10; D054371:Chemokine CXCL11; D054370:Chemokine CXCL9; C485433:Cxcl10 protein, mouse; C515203:Cxcl11 protein, mouse; C485969:Cxcl9 protein, mouse; D054397:Receptors, CCR3; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor