Distinct macrophage phenotypes skewed by local granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) are associated with tissue destruction and intimal hyperplasia in giant cell arteritis.
William F JiemyYannick van SleenKornelis Sm van der GeestHilde A Ten BergeWayel H AbdulahadMaria SandoviciAnnemieke Mh BootsPeter HeeringaElisabeth BrouwerPublished in: Clinical & translational immunology (2020)
Our data document a distinct spatial distribution pattern of CD206+/MMP-9+ macrophages and FRβ+ macrophages in GCA linked to tissue destruction and intimal proliferation, respectively. We suggest that these distinct macrophage phenotypes are skewed by sequential GM-CSF and M-CSF signals. Our study adds to a better understanding of the development and functional role of macrophage phenotypes in the pathogenesis of GCA and opens opportunities for the design of macrophage-targeted therapies.