title: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor: not just another haematopoietic growth factor.
abstract: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is often used to treat leucopenia. Other haematopoietins may increase the number of circulating leucocytes with higher efficiency, but GM-CSF has additional effects that may be far more relevant than its haematopoietic activity. GM-CSF induces differentiation, proliferation and activation of macrophages and dendritic cells which are necessary for the subsequent T helper cell type 1 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte activation. GM-CSF haematopoietic and non-haematopoietic functions have pro-inflammatory and immune regulatory potential to treat a variety of autoimmune diseases and tumours. On the other hand, GM-CSF deficiency leads to various immune dysfunctions and the current utilization of GM-CSF as haematopoietic factor might be an accurate but very incomplete indication for a cytokine with vast clinical potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition "Salvador Zubiran", Vasco de Quiroga 15, Tlalpan, 14000, México City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Francisco-Cruz
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Santelises
authors.forename: Octavio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ramos-Espinosa
authors.forename: Dulce
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mata-Espinosa
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marquina-Castillo
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barrios-Payan
authors.forename: Rogelio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Pando
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D016298:Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects; D007249:Inflammation; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000628:therapy; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D016298:Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor