Characterization of peripheral blood steady-state progenitor cells preserved in liquid culture conditions with or without GM-CSF and IL2. Scientific Publication

The cellular characteristics of steady-state peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) apheresis, including total number of lymphomononuclear cells, CD34 and CFUs, was evaluated in a group of 26 chemo-radiotherapy patients as well as in a group of 23 surgically resected cancer patients.

Three-to seven-day incubation in standard liquid culture conditions with growth factors (IL2, GM-CSF or both) correlated with a statistically significant increase in CD34+ and CD56+ cell populations compared with incubation without growth factors, especially when both GM-CSF and IL2 were used. In addition, an increase in CD33+, CD13+ and HLA-DR+ cell populations was observed after 3-7 days incubation with GM-CSF. The basal culture control exhibited a decrease in CD33+ and CD13+ cell populations while CD34+ and CD56+ cell populations were maintained.

These results were similar in the treated and untreated groups of patients. The infusion of GM-CSF and IL2 preincubated PBPC after intensive chemotherapy was associated with a rapid hematological recovery with a median time duration for WBC < 500/uL, WBC < 1.000/uL and platelets < 20.000/uL of 7.9 days, 14.9 days and 10.7 days respectively.

We conclude that a short GM-CSF and IL2 preincubation of steady-state PBPC is associated with an increase in cell populations exhibiting the immune and progenitor cell phenotypes and correlates with an early hematological recovery after intensive chemotherapy.

CITATION Rev Med Univ Navarra. 1996 Oct-Dec;40(4):7-14