Medical College of Wisconsin
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GM-CSF modulates pulmonary resistance to influenza A infection. Antiviral Res 2011 Nov;92(2):319-28

Date

09/20/2011

Pubmed ID

21925209

Pubmed Central ID

PMC4894852

DOI

10.1016/j.antiviral.2011.08.022

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-80054860186 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   47 Citations

Abstract

Alveolar type II epithelial or other pulmonary cells secrete GM-CSF that regulates surfactant catabolism and mucosal host defense through its capacity to modulate the maturation and activation of alveolar macrophages. GM-CSF enhances expression of scavenger receptors MARCO and SR-A. The alveolar macrophage SP-R210 receptor binds the surfactant collectin SP-A mediating clearance of respiratory pathogens. The current study determined the effects of epithelial-derived GM-CSF in host resistance to influenza A pneumonia. The results demonstrate that GM-CSF enhanced resistance to infection with 1.9×10(4) ffc of the mouse-adapted influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8) H1N1 strain, as indicated by significant differences in mortality and mean survival of GM-CSF-deficient (GM(-/-)) mice compared to GM(-/-) mice in which GM-CSF is expressed at increased levels. Protective effects of GM-CSF were observed both in mice with constitutive and inducible GM-CSF expression under the control of the pulmonary-specific SFTPC or SCGB1A1 promoters, respectively. Mice that continuously secrete high levels of GM-CSF developed desquamative interstitial pneumonia that impaired long-term recovery from influenza. Conditional expression of optimal GM-CSF levels at the time of infection, however, resulted in alveolar macrophage proliferation and focal lymphocytic inflammation of distal airways. GM-CSF enhanced alveolar macrophage activity as indicated by increased expression of SP-R210 and CD11c. Infection of mice lacking the GM-CSF-regulated SR-A and MARCO receptors revealed that MARCO decreases resistance to influenza in association with increased levels of SP-R210 in MARCO(-/-) alveolar macrophages. In conclusion, GM-CSF enhances early host resistance to influenza. Targeting of MARCO may reinforce GM-CSF-mediated host defense against pathogenic influenza.

Author List

Sever-Chroneos Z, Murthy A, Davis J, Florence JM, Kurdowska A, Krupa A, Tichelaar JW, White MR, Hartshorn KL, Kobzik L, Whitsett JA, Chroneos ZC



MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Animals
Female
Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype
Lung
Lymphocytes
Macrophages
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mice, Knockout
Orthomyxoviridae Infections
Survival Analysis