Novel insights in preventing Gram-negative bacterial infection in cirrhotic patients: review on the effects of GM-CSF in maintaining homeostasis of the immune system

Hepatol Int. 2015 Jan;9(1):28-34. doi: 10.1007/s12072-014-9588-7. Epub 2014 Nov 21.

Abstract

Cirrhotic patients with dysfunctional and/or low numbers of leukocytes are often infected with bacteria, especially Gram-negative bacteria, which is characterized by producing lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a pleiotropic cytokine that influences the production, maturation, function, and survival of various immune cells. In this paper, we reviewed not only Toll-like receptors 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway and its immunological effect, but also the specific stimulating function and autocrine performance of GM-CSF on hematopoietic cells, as well as the recent discovery of innate response activator-B cells in protection against microbial sepsis and the direct LPS-TLR4 signaling on hematopoiesis. Thus we concluded that GM-CSF might play important roles in preventing Gram-negative bacterial infections in cirrhotic patients through maintaining immune system functions and homeostasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / prevention & control*
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / pharmacology*
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / therapeutic use
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Homeostasis / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Immune System / drug effects*
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Liver Cirrhosis / complications
  • Liver Cirrhosis / immunology*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / immunology*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism

Substances

  • TLR4 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor