The link between abnormal maturation of myeloid cells and diabetes was demonstrated in non-obese db mice in which administration of GM-CSF promoted the maturation of DCs and subsequently reduced the development of diabetes (58) as well as in obese db mice in which administration of G-CSF–promoted Gr-1+CD11b+ cell maturation and wound healing (59); thus, the cause and effect relationship between these two states may be intertwined. The gene discussed is ITGAM; the disease is diabetes mellitus.