title: Novel insights in preventing Gram-negative bacterial infection in cirrhotic patients: review on the effects of GM-CSF in maintaining homeostasis of the immune system.
abstract: Cirrhotic patients with dysfunctional and/or low numbers of leukocytes are often infected with bacteria, especially Gram-negative bacteria, which is characterized by producing lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a pleiotropic cytokine that influences the production, maturation, function, and survival of various immune cells. In this paper, we reviewed not only Toll-like receptors 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway and its immunological effect, but also the specific stimulating function and autocrine performance of GM-CSF on hematopoietic cells, as well as the recent discovery of innate response activator-B cells in protection against microbial sepsis and the direct LPS-TLR4 signaling on hematopoiesis. Thus we concluded that GM-CSF might play important roles in preventing Gram-negative bacterial infections in cirrhotic patients through maintaining immune system functions and homeostasis.
authors: Department of Infectious Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors: Dong
authors: D
authors: Xu
authors: Manzhi
authors: M
authors: Zhao
authors: Yuhu
authors: Y
authors: Song
authors: Jianxin
authors: J
authors: Song
authors: Yuancheng
authors: Y
authors: Huang
authors: Junshuai
authors: J
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C495345:TLR4 protein, human; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor