title: GM-CSF reduces expression of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) core proteins in TGF-β-treated primary astrocytes.
abstract: GM-CSF plays a role in the nervous system, particularly in cases of injury. A therapeutic effect of GM-CSF has been reported in rat models of various central nervous system injuries. We previously showed that GM-CSF could enhance long-term recovery in a rat spinal cord injury model, inhibiting glial scar formation and increasing the integrity of axonal structure. Here, we investigated molecular the mechanism(s) by which GM-CSF suppressed glial scar formation in an in vitro system using primary astrocytes treated with TGF-β. GM-CSF repressed the expression of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) core proteins in astrocytes treated with TGF-β. GM-CSF also inhibited the TGF-β-induced Rho-ROCK pathway, which is important in CSPG expression. Finally, the inhibitory effect of GM-CSF was blocked by a JAK inhibitor. These results may provide the basis for GM-CSF's effects in glial scar inhibition and ultimately for its therapeutic effect on neural cell injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 400-712; Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Cancer Preventive Material Development Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Kyoung
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Cancer Preventive Material Development Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 400-712, Korea.
authors.forename: Kil Hwan
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 400-712, Korea.
authors.forename: So Ra
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Cancer Preventive Material Development Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Seok-Geun
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 400-712, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Hyune
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D002867:Chromones / Q000378:metabolism; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053612:Janus Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D009025:Morpholines / Q000378:metabolism; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans; D002867:Chromones; D009025:Morpholines; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C085911:2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D053612:Janus Kinases; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins