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Lookup NU author(s): Professor John IsaacsORCiD, Professor Iain McInnes
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Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. The COVID-19 pandemic is a global public health crisis, with considerable mortality and morbidity exerting pressure on health-care resources, including critical care. An excessive host inflammatory response in a subgroup of patients with severe COVID-19 might contribute to the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiorgan failure. Timely therapeutic intervention with immunomodulation in patients with hyperinflammation could prevent disease progression to ARDS and obviate the need for invasive ventilation. Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is an immunoregulatory cytokine with a pivotal role in initiation and perpetuation of inflammatory diseases. GM-CSF could link T-cell-driven acute pulmonary inflammation with an autocrine, self-amplifying cytokine loop leading to monocyte and macrophage activation. This axis has been targeted in cytokine storm syndromes and chronic inflammatory disorders. Here, we consider the scientific rationale for therapeutic targeting of GM-CSF in COVID-19-associated hyperinflammation. Since GM-CSF also has a key role in homoeostasis and host defence, we discuss potential risks associated with inhibition of GM-CSF in the context of viral infection and the challenges of doing clinical trials in this setting, highlighting in particular the need for a patient risk-stratification algorithm.
Author(s): Mehta P, Porter JC, Manson JJ, Isaacs JD, Openshaw PJM, McInnes IB, Summers C, Chambers RC
Publication type: Review
Publication status: Published
Journal: The Lancet Respiratory Medicine
Year: 2020
Volume: 8
Issue: 8
Pages: 822-830
Print publication date: 01/08/2020
Online publication date: 16/06/2020
Acceptance date: 02/04/2018
ISSN (print): 2213-2600
ISSN (electronic): 2213-2619
Publisher: NLM (Medline)
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30267-8
DOI: 10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30267-8
PubMed id: 32559419
