Treatment with granulocyte colony stimulating factor is associated with improvement in endothelial function.
OBJECTIVE
Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is used for the mobilization of bone marrow and endothelial progenitor cells, though G-CSF-induced inflammation may cause endothelial dysfunction. We examined the effects of G-CSF on endothelium, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and anti-inflammatory cytokines namely interleukin 10 (IL-10).


METHODS
We studied 60 women with breast cancer, who were randomized to either subcutaneous G-CSF (5 microg/kg), o.d. for 5 days after adjuvant chemotherapy (n = 40) or placebo (n = 20).


METHODS
We measured flow-mediated dilatation (FMD%) of the brachial artery by ultrasonography, CRP, TNF-alpha, IL-10 and the ratio TNF-alpha/ IL-10 blood levels before, 2-h and 5-days after the G-CSF or placebo treatment.


RESULTS
There was a greater increase of FMD, IL-10 and reduction of TNF-alpha/ IL-10, 2 h and 5 days after the G-CSF treatment compared to placebo. Although, CRP and TNF-alpha were higher, TNF-alpha/IL-10 was lower at the end of G-CSF treatment compared to placebo. Improvement of FMD was related to changes of IL-10 and TNF-alpha/IL-10.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with G-CSF improves endothelial function in vivo, possibly by shifting the balance between the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
The Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital Athens, University of Athens, Greece. ignoik@otenet.gr
Ignatios
I
Ikonomidis
Christos
C
Papadimitriou
Georgia
G
Vamvakou
Paraskevi
P
Katsichti
Kiriaki
K
Venetsanou
Kimon
K
Stamatelopoulos
Christos
C
Papamichael
Athanasios-Meletios
AM
Dimopoulos
John
J
Lekakis
D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004727:Endothelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D010919:Placebos; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D010919:Placebos; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D002097:C-Reactive Protein