| First Author | Chen GH | Year | 2007 |
| Journal | Am J Pathol | Volume | 170 |
| Issue | 3 | Pages | 1028-40 |
| PubMed ID | 17322386 | Mgi Jnum | J:118656 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3700076 | Doi | 10.2353/ajpath.2007.060595 |
| Citation | Chen GH, et al. (2007) Role of Granulocyte Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor in Host Defense Against Pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans Infection during Murine Allergic Bronchopulmonary Mycosis. Am J Pathol 170(3):1028-40 |
| abstractText | We investigated the role of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in host defense in a murine model of pulmonary cryptococcosis induced by intratracheal inoculation of Cryptococcus neoformans. Pulmonary C. neoformans infection of C57BL/6 mice is an established model of an allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis. Our objective was to determine whether GM-CSF regulates the pulmonary Th2 immune response in C. neoformans-infected C57BL/6 mice. Long-term pulmonary fungistasis was lost in GM-CSF knockout (GM(-/-)) mice, resulting in increased pulmonary burden of fungi between weeks 3 and 5. GM-CSF was required for the early influx of macrophages and CD4 and CD8 T cells into the lungs but was not required later in the infection. Lack of GM-CSF also resulted in reduced eosinophil recruitment and delayed recruitment of mononuclear cells into the airspace. Macrophages from GM(+/+) mice showed numerous hallmarks of alternatively activated macrophages: higher numbers of intracellular cryptococci, YM1 crystals, and induction of CCL17. These hallmarks are absent in macrophages from GM(-/-) mice. Mucus-producing goblet cells were abundantly present within the bronchial epithelial layer in GM(+/+) mice but not in GM(-/-) mice at week 5 after infection. Production of both Th1 and Th2 cytokines was impaired in the absence of GM-CSF, consistent with both reduced C. neoformans clearance and absence of allergic lung pathology. |
