title: Effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor on glial scar formation after spinal cord injury in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on glial scar formation after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats and compared the therapeutic effects between G-CSF and granulocytemacrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to evaluate G-CSF as a potential substitute for GM-CSF in clinical application.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: a sham-operated group (Group 1), an SCI group without treatment (Group 2), an SCI group treated with G-CSF (Group 3), and an SCI group treated with GM-CSF (Group 4). G-CSF and GM-CSF were administered via intraperitoneal injection immediately after SCI. The effects of G-CSF and GM-CSF on functional recovery, glial scar formation, and axonal regeneration were evaluated and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rats in Groups 3 and 4 showed better functional recovery and more decreased cavity sizes than those in Group 2 (p < 0.05). Both G-CSF and GM-CSF suppressed intensive expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein around the cavity at 4 weeks and reduced the expression of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (p < 0.05). Also, early administration of G-CSF and GM-CSF protected axon fibers from destructive injury and facilitated axonal regeneration. There were no significant differences in comparisons of functional recovery, glial scar formation, and axonal regeneration between G-CSF and GM-CSF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  G-CSF suppressed glial scar formation after SCI in rats, possibly by restricting the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, which might facilitate functional recovery from SCI. GM-CSF and G-CSF had similar effects on glial scar formation and functional recovery after SCI, suggesting that G-CSF can potentially be substituted for GM-CSF in the treatment of SCI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul; 
authors.forename: Joonho
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Moon Hang
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong Je
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Kil Hwan
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: So Ra
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Byung Hyune
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D058580:Neurocan; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D054633:Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Class 5 / Q000378:metabolism; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; C539091:Ncan protein, rat; D058580:Neurocan; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D054633:Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Class 5
keywords: BBB = Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan; CSPG = chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan; G-CSF; G-CSF = granulocyte colony–stimulating factor; GFAP = glial fibrillary acidic protein; GM-CSF; GM-CSF = granulocyte-macrophage colony–stimulating factor; PBS = phosphate-buffered saline; SCI = spinal cord injury; glial scar; spinal cord injury