Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor α expression and its targeting in antigen-induced arthritis and inflammation

Abstract

Background: Blockade of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and its receptor (GM-CSFRα) is being successfully tested in trials in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with clinical results equivalent to those found with neutralization of the current therapeutic targets, TNF and IL-6. To explore further the role of GM-CSF as a pro-inflammatory cytokine, we examined the effect of anti-GM-CSFRα neutralization on myeloid cell populations in antigen-driven arthritis and inflammation models and also compared its effect with that of anti-TNF and anti-IL-6. Methods: Cell population changes upon neutralization by monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in the antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) and antig..