Serum cholesterol-lowering activity of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.
Human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a glycoprotein hormone that stimulates the growth of hematopoietic progenitor cells and enhances the functional activity of mature myeloid effector cells. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor was administered to eight patients with severe aplastic anemia in an attempt to restore adequate hematopoiesis. Profound decreases in serum cholesterol concentrations were observed during GM-CSF therapy that were not dependent on changes in the patients' peripheral blood cell counts. Serum cholesterol levels decreased by an average of 37% during treatment, reaching levels of less than 4.40 mmol/L in all patients. Serum cholesterol concentrations returned to baseline in all patients after discontinuation of GM-CSF therapy. Treatment with GM-CSF prominently alters cholesterol homeostasis in vivo, although the mechanism of this effect is unknown. Our results suggest that GM-CSF may be potentially useful in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and, possibly, in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.[1]References
- Serum cholesterol-lowering activity of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Nimer, S.D., Champlin, R.E., Golde, D.W. JAMA (1988) [Pubmed]
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