Recent Advances and Current Status of GM-CSF as an Adjuvant in DNA Vaccines for Viral Diseases

Here, I update the recent advances and current status of Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), since we have reported for the first time that porcine GM-CSF gene in a DNA vaccine formulation exerted immuno-adjuvant and protective effects against Aujeszky’s (Pseudorabies)viral disease to the natural host pigs with a single vaccination. GM-CSF has been broadly used as an adjuvant in preclinical DNA vaccine studies for cancer and viral diseases. Currently, GeoVax Labs, Inc. reported a recombinant HIV vaccine (GEO-D03) that co-expresses the human GM-CSF and non-infectious HIV-1 virus-like particles (VLPs) is being evaluated in HIV infected young adults in several Phase I studies (NCT01571960). In addition, I summarized here the outcomes of the use of GM-CSF in DNA vaccine for other viral diseases. Further, phase 3 clinical studies reported that GM-CSF showed an improvement in patient outcome when applied in combination with suitable anti-tumor vaccines. However, GM-CSF in excessive levels was reported to expand myeloid suppressor cells that were shown to dampen adaptive immune responses.