Differential effects of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and macrophage colony-stimulating factor on tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1 production in human monocytes

Abstract

Human peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) cultured in the presence of 100-5,000 u/ml granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) for 24 hr secreted small quantities of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), but not interleukin-1 (IL-1). The activation of PBM to produce TNF was weak and could be blocked by polyclonal anti-GM-CSF anti-serum. Neither LPS nor IL-2 were synergistic with GM-CSF in the production of TNF or IL-1. IFN gamma alone did not induce either cytokine, but in the presence of GM-CSF it caused a synergistic (100-fold) increase in TNF but not IL-1 production. Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) alone or in combination with LPS, IFN gamma or IL-2 did not stimulate PBM to produce TNF or IL-1 in 24 hr culture.