Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor activity in cerebrospinalfluid

Objectives - The purpose of this study was to analyse the presence of the g ranulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in human cerebrosp inal fluid (SF) of patients affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) in comparis on with non-inflammatory neurological diseases. Material and methods - All SFs were collected from 59 patients for diagnostic purpose. The presence of GM-CSF was revealed by measuring its activity and by immunoassay. The data obtained were statistically evaluated. Results - We found that GM-CSF is c onstitutively present in human SF; this presence was confirmed by its stimu lating activity of colony-forming-unit granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) prod uction. No significant changes of the GM-CSF concentration in the SFs were observed among different neurological disorders (degenerative or vascular) and MS. Conclusion - Our data suggest that GM-CSF is a constitutive compone nt of human SF, relatively uninfluenced by the different morbid conditions of the nervous system.