Involvement of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in pulmonary homeostasis. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • The in vivo function of murine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was investigated in mice, carrying a null allele of the GM-CSF gene, that were generated by gene targeting techniques in embryonic stem cells. Although steady-state hematopoiesis was unimpaired in homozygous mutant animals, all animals developed the progressive accumulation of surfactant lipids and proteins in the alveolar space, the defining characteristic of the idiopathic human disorder pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. Extensive lymphoid hyperplasia associated with lung airways and blood vessels was also found, yet no infectious agents could be detected. These results demonstrate that GM-CSF is not an essential growth factor for basal hematopoiesis and reveal an unexpected, critical role for GM-CSF in pulmonary homeostasis.

publication date

  • April 29, 1994

Research

keywords

  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
  • Lung
  • Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis
  • Pulmonary Alveoli
  • Pulmonary Surfactants

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0028263504

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1126/science.8171324

PubMed ID

  • 8171324

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 264

issue

  • 5159