The biological consequences of excess GM-CSF levels in transgenic mice also lacking high-affinity receptors for GM-CSF

Abstract

GM-CSF transgenic mice were crossed with mice with homozygous inactivation of the gene encoding the common β chain (βc) of the GM-CSF receptor to produce mice with constitutively elevated GM-CSF levels but no high-affinity GM-CSF receptors. GM-CSF transgenic βc -/- mice had exceptionally elevated serum GM-CSF levels but failed to develop the abnormal peritoneal cell population, eye destruction or tissue lesions characteristic of GM-CSF transgenic βc +/+ mice. The alveolar proteinosis of βc -/- mice was not altered in GM-CSF transgenic βc -/- mice. Levels of GM-CSF mRNA in transgenic GM-CSF βc -/- were elevated but lower than in transgenic β +/+ mice and the higher serum GM-CSF levels were tr..