Grosse- Wilde H. rhG-csf effect on mixed lymphocyte cultures and circulating serum hla antigen levels in volunteer stem cells donors

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) is a cytokine widely used in the procurement of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) from donors for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Therefore, we were interested in its immediate and long-term effects on cellular and soluble factors known to be involved in the immune response. METHODS: We studied 35 PBSC donors by mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) and lymphocyte transformation test (LTT), and 41 for soluble plasma factors (soluble human leukocyte antigen [sHLA]-G, -class I, -DR, and interleukin [IL]-10) pre and 5 days post initial rhG-CSF administration, respectively. In addition, 10 donors were reexamined at an average of 2 months (3-16 weeks) post-rhG-CSF. RESULTS: At 5 days post-rhG-CSF the donors presented a significant (p < 0.05) decrease of MLC, LTT mitogen, and recall antigen reactions. Plasma levels of sHLA-G, -class I, -DR, and IL-10 (p < 0.005 each) were significantly increased. The changes in IL-10 but not in sHLA were significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with LTT responses. In the 2-month follow-up there was no significant difference in alloreactivity and LTT reactions as compared to the pre-rhG-CSF results. The results generated after 3 to 16 weeks did not depend on the time point of investigation. Consistently, soluble factors decreased to pre-rhG-CSF levels. CONCLUSIONS: rhG-CSF administration suppresses cellular immune functions within 5 days and increases sHLA and IL-10 plasma levels. These immunomodulatory effects appear to be short-term only and vanished at an average of 2 months after rhG-CSF application.