Immunomodulatory treatment with systemic GM-CSF augments pulmonary immune responses and improves neurological outcome after experimental stroke

Stroke-induced immunodepression is an independent risk factor for stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP). Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) has neuroprotective properties in experimental stroke and been demonstrated to reverse immunodepression in sepsis patients. However, whether GM-CSF restores immune function after stroke preventing SAP and improving outcome is unknown. Here, we demonstrated that GM-CSF treatment improved peripheral and pulmonary leukocyte numbers, peripheral cytokine responses, lowered lung bacterial burden in the early course and improved long-term functional outcome after experimental stroke.

Source: Journal of Neuroimmunology - March 9, 2018 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Claudia Dames, Katarzyna Winek, Yasmin Beckers, Odilo Engel, Andreas Meisel, Christian Meisel Source Type: research