Intradermal transgenic expression of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor induces neutrophilia, epidermal hyperplasia, Langerhans' cell/macrophage accumulation, and dermal fibrosis.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), a pleiotropic cytokine, is up-regulated in a number of chronic skin inflammatory diseases, particularly atopic dermatitis. However, its role in these conditions remains largely unclear. To explore its function, we have established a rat intradermal transgene model by using a replication-deficient adenoviral vector expressing GM-CSF. Intradermal GM-CSF gene transfer led to a prolonged …