Prolongation of survival of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor is caused by inhibition of programmed cell death.

In the absence of appropriate stimuli, polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) undergo programmed cell death (PCD), also termed apoptosis. We show that granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), but not the chemotactic factors formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), recombinant human (rh) C5a, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, and interleukin-8 (IL-8), or other cytokines including IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, and G-CSF, maintains viability of PMN in culture by preventing these cells from undergoing PCD. Prevention from PCD by GM-CSF was associated with induction of RNA and protein synthesis in PMN. Inhibition of RNA and protein synthesis by actinomycin-D and cycloheximide impeded the protection of apoptosis by GM-CSF. Similarly, neutralization of GM-CSF biologic activity by a specific antiserum abrogated GM-CSF-mediated inhibition of PCD.