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7041204 
Journal Article 
Disruption of granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor production in the lungs severely affects the ability of mice to control Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection 
Gonzalez-Juarrero, M; Hattle, JM; Izzo, A; Junqueira-Kipnis, AP; Shim, TS; Trapnell, BC; Cooper, AM; Orme, IM; , 
2005 
Yes 
Journal of Leukocyte Biology
ISSN: 0741-5400
EISSN: 1938-3673 
WILEY 
HOBOKEN 
914-922 
English 
15767289 
WOS:000229489200011 
Mice lacking expression of granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF KO) are unable to contain Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) growth and succumb to infection by 35 days following pulmonary challenge. GM-CSF KO mice do not express normal levels of the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) nor the chemokines, regulated on activation, normal T expressed and secreted (RANTES), macrophage-inflammatory protein-1beta (MIP-1beta), MIP-1alpha, and lymphotactin, which are required for recruitment of lymphocytes and expression of a T helper cell type 1 (TH1) response within the lungs. In contrast, transgenic mice overexpressing GM-CSF in the lungs but with a lack of GM-CSF in other organs (GM+) are able to recruit lymphocytes and to express a TH1 response with production of TNF-alpha and interferon-gamma in the lungs. However, GM+ mice succumb to infection between 60 and 90 days post-challenge, as they are unable to develop a normal granulomatous response. Although GM+ mice are able to express the chemokine RANTES, they lack the ability to express other inflammatory chemokines such as lymphotactin and MIP-1beta. We conclude that GM-CSF is essential to the recruitment of lymphocytes and expression of a TH1 response in the lung, to the generation of a normal mononuclear granuloma, and most importantly, to the containment of M. tuberculosis bacterial growth.