Assessment of serum levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) among non-segmental vitiligo patients: a pilot study

Abstract

Introduction: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is an essential factor in the growth and maturation of blood cells as well as modulation of the immune system. Few studies have investigated its involvement in the development of vitiligo, and no studies have been performed on Egyptian patients. Aim: To assess GM-CSF serum level among non-segmental Egyptian vitiligo patients and to determine its possible role in the etiopathogenesis of the disease. Methods: Forty patients with non-segmental vitiligo and 40 age-and sex-matched subjects were assessed for levels of GM-CSF in serum using the ELISA technique. Results: The patients in this study showed lower levels of GM-CSF in serum compared to controls (mean ± SD was 33.4 ± 5.7 pg/ml versus 63.4 ± 7.4 pg/ml, respectively, p = 0.0001). No appreciable relation was detected between levels of GM-CSF in serum and age, sex, family history, and stressful events or disease activity, type, and extent, p > 0.05. Conclusions: GM-CSF serum level may be one of the determinants of the autoimmune hypothesis in the etiopathogenesis of nonsegmental vitiligo.

Changes in sICAM-1 and GM-CSF levels in skin tissue fluid and expression of IL-6, IL-17 and TNF-α in blood of patients with vitiligo

“…There is a variety of cytokines in the body which can form a very complex immune regulatory network through the mutual feedback and regulatory effect of synthesis and secretion, and the mutual influence, regulatory effect and biological effect of the expression of cytokine receptors (4,5). Abdellatif et al (6) have proposed that the proliferation activity of T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with vitiligo is abnormal, and the T cell-mediated normal melanocyte antigen response plays an important role in the occurrence of vitiligo. In the present study, in order to further investigate the pathogenesis of vitiligo, the levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in the skin tissue fluid and the levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the blood of patients with vitiligo were detected, and their correlations with the course of disease and skin lesion area of patients were explored.…”

Hallmarks of Aging in Macrophages: Consequences to Skin Inflammaging

“…In another study with a larger patient cohort, similar observations were made regarding MIF levels, with the difference that MIF levels were also associated with patient treatment status [183]. The serum levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), essential for the development of immune system stem cells, were also found increased in patients with vitiligo, indicating the role of these cells in vitiligo pathogenesis [30].…”

“…Mϕ are considered as gatekeepers of tissue homeostasis and integrity, constituting primary inflammatory cytokine producers, as well as initiators and regulators of inflammation, and representing one of the main cellular players in adaptive immunity exacerbation and exhaustion during aging [24,25]. With that being said, it is possible to consider Mϕ as important players in the promotion of chronic proinflammatory-associated pathologies, such as psoriasis [26,27], rosacea [28,29], vitiligo [30,31], and skin cancer [32,33]. In recognition of the age-related alterations on Mϕ function and their importance during skin aging, in this review, we will dissect how aging hallmarks may alter the Mϕ phenotype and function and connect these plastic cells with skin inflammaging.…”

Biomarkers and clinical indicators of disease activity in vitiligo

“…The following factors have only received minor research attention: melanocyte proliferating gene 1 (MYG1), granulocyte–macrophage colony‐stimulating factor, and neuropeptide Y. MYG1 shows a linkage with disease activity 90 . The last two factors display conflicting results 74,91,92 . Table 1 and Figure 1 provide an overview of the circulating makers associated with disease activity.…”