Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) reduces not only gram-negative but also gram-positive infection-associated proinflammatory cytokine release by interaction between Kupffer cells and leukocytes

Objective and Design:An important principle for the beneficial effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), a central mediator in the endogenous host response, is the reduction of systemic cytokine levels in various gram-negative models of sepsis and septic shock. There is debate, however, on whether G-CSF is protective also in gram-positive sepsis and acts directly or indirectly on macrophages and hepatic Kupffer cells (KC).