Repeated courses of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: clinical and biological results from a prospective multicenter study.
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) induces a transient mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor cells from bone marrow to peripheral blood. Our aim was to evaluate safety of repeated courses of G-CSF in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), assessing disease progression and changes in chemokine and cytokine levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Twenty-four ALS patients entered an open-label, multicenter trial in which four courses of G-CSF and mannitol were administered at 3-month intervals. Levels of G-CSF were increased after treatment in the serum and CSF. Few and transitory adverse events were observed. No significant reduction of the mean monthly decrease in ALSFRS-R score and forced vital capacity was observed. A significant reduction in CSF levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) was observed. G-CSF treatment was safe and feasible in a multicenter series of ALS patients. A decrease in the CSF levels of proinflammatory cytokines MCP-1 and IL-17 was found, indicating a G-CSF-induced central anti-inflammatory response.
Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Centro per la Sclerosi Laterale Amiotrofica, Torino, Italy. achio@usa.net
Adriano
A
Chiò
Gabriele
G
Mora
Vincenzo
V
La Bella
Claudia
C
Caponnetto
Gianluigi
G
Mancardi
Mario
M
Sabatelli
Gabriele
G
Siciliano
Vincenzo
V
Silani
Massimo
M
Corbo
Cristina
C
Moglia
Andrea
A
Calvo
Roberto
R
Mutani
Sergio
S
Rutella
Francesca
F
Gualandi
Mario
M
Melazzini
Rosanna
R
Scimè
Mario
M
Petrini
Paola
P
Bondesan
Silvia
S
Garbelli
Stefania
S
Mantovani
Caterina
C
Bendotti
Corrado
C
Tarella
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016207:Cytokines; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor