Impaired granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor bioactivity accelerates surgical recurrence in ileal crohn's disease

AIM To examine the relationship between elevated granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor(GMCSF) auto-antibodies(Ab) level and time to surgical recurrence after initial surgery for Crohn's disease(CD). METHODS We reviewed 412 charts from a clinical database at tertiary academic hospital. Patients included in the study had ileal or ileocolonic CD and surgical resection of small bowel or ileocecal region for management of disease. Serum samples were analyzed for serological assays including GM-CSF cytokine, GM-CSF Ab, ASCA Ig G and Ig A, and genetic markers including SNPs rs2066843, rs2066844, rs2066845, rs2076756 and rs2066847 in NOD2, rs2241880 in ATG16 L1, and rs13361189 in IRGM. Cox proportional-hazards models were used to assess the predictors of surgical recurrence.RESULTS Ninety six percent of patients underwent initial ileocecal resection(ICR) or ileal resection(IR) and subsequently 40% of patients required a second ICR/IR for CD. GMCSF Ab level was elevated at a median of 3.81 mcg/mL. Factors predicting faster time to a second surgery included elevated GM-CSF Ab [hazard ratio(HR) 3.52, 95%CI: 1.45-8.53, P = 0.005] and elevated GM-CSF cytokine(HR = 2.48, 95%CI: 1.31-4.70, P = 0.005). Factors predicting longer duration between first and second surgery included use of Immunomodulators(HR = 0.49, 95%CI: 0.31-0.77, P = 0.002), the interaction effect of low GM-CSF Ab levels and smoking(HR = 0.60, 95%CI: 0.45-0.81, P = 0.001) and the interaction effect of low GM-CSF cytokine levels and ATG16 L1(HR = 0.65, 95%CI: 0.49-0.88, P = 0.006).CONCLUSION GM-CSF bioavailability plays a critical role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis. Decreased bioavailability coupled with the genetic risk markers and/or smoking results in aggressive CD behavior.

Preclinical evaluation of herpes simplex virus armed with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in pancreatic carcinoma

AIM: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy and mechanisms of action of oncolytic-herpes-simplex-virus encoding granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor(HSVGM-CSF) in pancreatic carcinoma.METHODS: Tumor blocks were homogenized in a sterile grinder in saline.The homogenate was injected into the right armpit of each mouse.After vaccination,the mice were randomly assigned into four groups: a control group,a high dose HSVGM-CSFgroup [1 × 107plaque forming units(pfu)/tumor],a medium dose HSVGM-CSF group(5 × 106pfu/tumor) and a low dose HSVGM-CSF group(5 × 105pfu/tumor).After initiation of drug administration,body weights and tumor diameters were measured every 3 d.Fifteen days later,after decapitation of the animal by cervical dislocation,each tumor was isolated,weighed and stored in 10% formaldehyde solution.The drug effectiveness was evaluated according to the weight,volume and relative volume change of each tumor.Furthermore,GM-CSF protein levels in serum were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays at 1,2,3 and 4 d after injection of HSVGM-CSF.RESULTS: Injection of the recombinant mouse HSV encoding GM-CSF resulted in a significant reduction in tumor growth compared to the control group,and dosedependent effects were observed: the relative tumor proliferation rates of the low dose,medium dose and high dose groups on 15 d after injection were 45.5%,55.2% and 65.5%,respectively.The inhibition rates of the tumor weights of the low,middle,and high dose groups were 41.4%,46.7% and 50.5%,respectively.Furthermore,the production of GM-CSF was significantly increased in the mice infected with HSVGM-CSF.The increase in the GM-CSF level was more pronounced in the high dose group compared to the other two dose groups.CONCLUSION: Our study provides the first evidence that HSVGM-CSFcould inhibit the growth of pancreatic cancer.The enhanced GM-CSF expression might be responsible for the phenomenon.

Influence of granulocyte-macrophage colonystimulating factor and tumor necrosis factor on anti-hepatoma activities of human dendritic cells

INTRODUCTIONDendritic cells (DCs) play a key regulatory role inantitumor immunity,especially in its immuneaccessory role via MHC-Ⅰ molecules.We haverecently reported that DCs were able to enhance thekilling activity of Lymphokine and PHA activatedkiller (LPAK) cells in vitro.In the presentstudy,we evaluated the effects of GM-CSF andTNF upon antitumor activities of freshly