title: GM-CSF: From Growth Factor to Central Mediator of Tissue Inflammation.
abstract: The granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was initially classified as a hematopoietic growth factor. However, unlike its close relatives macrophage CSF (M-CSF) and granulocyte CSF (G-CSF), the majority of myeloid cells do not require GM-CSF for steady-state myelopoiesis. Instead, in inflammation, GM-CSF serves as a communication conduit between tissue-invading lymphocytes and myeloid cells. Even though lymphocytes are in all likelihood the instigators of chronic inflammatory disease, GM-CSF-activated phagocytes are well equipped to cause tissue damage. The pivotal role of GM-CSF at the T cell:myeloid cell interface might shift our attention toward studying the function of the myeloid compartment in immunopathology. Targeting specifically the crosstalk between T cells and myeloid cells through GM-CSF holds promise for the development of therapeutics to combat chronic tissue inflammation. Here, we will review some of the major discoveries of the recent past, which indicate that GM-CSF is so much more than its name suggests.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: becher@immunology.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Becher
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tugues
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Greter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor