GM-CSF AND ITS EFFECTS ON REPLICATION OF HIV-1 IN CELLS OF MACROPHAGELINEAGE

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a hemopoe tic growth factor that is a member of the four-helix bundle family of cytokines and growth factors. It regulates the proliferation and diffe rentiation of granulocytes and cells of macrophage lineage from bone m arrow progenitor cells, mediating these activities through binding to its receptor, Most studies examining the effects of GMCSF on HIV-1 rep lication in primary monocytes and macrophages, and in related cell lin es, have demonstrated augmentation of HIV-1 expression in vitro, altho ugh some reports have been at variance with these findings. These labo ratory-based observations have been confirmed in limited clinical tria ls, This review outlines the details of these studies and considers me chanisms by which GM-CSF may exert its effects on cells of this lineag e.