Granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor in virus-host interactions and its implication for immunotherapy

Nasry Zane Bouzeineddine; Alecco Philippi; Katrina Gee; Sam Basta

doi:10.1016/j.cytogfr.2024.12.002

Granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor in virus-host interactions and its implication for immunotherapy

Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2024 Dec 26:S1359-6101(24)00103-5. doi: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2024.12.002. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Nasry Zane Bouzeineddine¹, Alecco Philippi¹, Katrina Gee², Sam Basta³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada.
² Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada. Electronic address: kgee@queensu.ca.
³ Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada. Electronic address: bastas@queensu.ca.

PMID: 39755463
DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2024.12.002

Abstract

Viruses have evolved to strategically exploit cellular signaling pathways to evade host immune defenses. GM-CSF signaling plays a pivotal role in regulating inflammation, activating myeloid cells, and enhancing the immune response to infections. Due to its central role in the immune system, viruses may target this pathway to further establish infection. This review focuses on key studies elucidating virus interactions with GM-CSF signaling proteins and summarizes findings on the impact of viral infections on GM-CSF production. Additionally, therapeutic strategies centered around GM-CSF are investigated, such as the potential benefits of administering GM-CSF versus inhibiting GM-CSF signaling to mitigate viral-induced aberrant inflammation. Understanding these virus-host interactions provides valuable insights that help further our understanding to develop future therapeutic approaches in modulating the immune response during viral infections.

Keywords: GM-CSF; antiviral therapeutics; inflammation; innate immunity; macrophage; virus.