Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor induces cytokine secretion by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Year: 1989

Type: article

Abstract: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is known as an inducer of proliferation and functional activation of myeloid cells. This study was carried out to characterize the effects of GM-CSF on polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) more extensively. Using Northern blot analysis, we show that PMN are able to accumulate mRNAs for different cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha); G-CSF, and M-CSF, all of which are involved in inflammation and hematopoiesis. Biological assays and immunoassays demonstrate that PMN translate these mRNAs, except TNF-alpha, into secretory proteins. However, the expression of these cytokines is dependent on stimulation by exogenous signals, preferentially provided by the T cell-derived lymphokine GM-CSF. Stimulation of hematopoiesis and amplification of defense mechanisms after T cell activation thus might involve not only monocytes but also PMN, a cell type previously believed to be biosynthetically inactive.

Source: Journal of Clinical Investigation

DOI: 10.1172/jci114016

Authors: A Lindemann, D Riedel, W Oster, H W Ziegler-Heitbrock, R Mertelsmann, F Herrmann

Institutions: Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Institut für Immunologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Language: English

Topic: Cytokine Signaling Pathways and Interactions

Subfield: Immunology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft