Possible Role of Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Contribution to Local and Systemic Manifestations.

1Yassin MM, 2EL- Sebaie H and 2Abdul Hady H.

1Bacteriology and Immunology Department and 2Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University.

In a trial to assess the value of granulocyte macrophage - colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) as an important cytokine implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), its level was estimated in sera of twenty patients, diagnosed according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and in synovial fluid (SF) of six of them who were suffering from knee effusion and in sera of ten apparently healthy controls using quantitative ELISA. Our findings revealed a highly significant decrease in serum GM-CSF level in RA patients than in sera of controls (P< 0.001). Interestingly, its level in SF was significantly higher than in the serum of patients with RA (P< 0.05). Also, we found a non significant correlation between either serum or SF level of GM-CSF and clinical or laboratory parameter for disease activity. Yet, a significant positive correlation between score of disease activity and disease duration, pain scale and number of affected joints (r = 0.4545, 0.7713, 0.6671 respectively); while a significant negative correlation between the score of disease activity and right and left hand grip was found; r = -0.6719 (Rr. hand grip), and - 0.7864 (Lt. hand grip) respectively. In view of our study, we can conclude that GM-CSF plays an important role in the pathogenesis of RA.