title: GM-CSF in Neuroinflammation: Licensing Myeloid Cells for Tissue Damage.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the prototypical inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS). MS lesions harbor different immune cells, but the contribution of individual cell types to disease etiology and progression is not well understood. In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), auto-reactive helper T (Th) cells instigate CNS inflammation by acting on myeloid cells via the production of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Recent reports have implicated myeloid cells in both the inflammatory process and as executers of tissue damage in the CNS. We review these findings here, and integrate them into a model wherein GM-CSF produced by Th cells coordinates monocyte recruitment to the CNS, and differentiation into pathogenic effectors. We discuss the implications of this model to current therapies for MS, and outline important areas of further inquiry.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andrew L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Croxford
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spath
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: becher@immunology.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Becher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D022423:Myeloid Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
keywords: CNS; GM-CSF; MS; monocytes; neuroinflammation; tissue damage