G-CSF. A new target to prevent neonatal lung disease

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) is a debilitating lung condition that commonly affects infants born premature (less than 37 weeks of normal pregnancy). Despite observation of increased inflammation in the lungs of human and mouse neonates, little research has been conducted on whether this damage is driven by a growth and survival factor of granulocytes, G-CSF (granulocyte colony stimulating factor). Using mice absent in G-CSF, we have shown that G-CSF free mice exposed to same conditions as premature babies are protected against lung damage. This new data suggests G-CSF as a potential therapeutic target to prevent BPD.