title: Collection of large quantities of granulocyte/macrophage progenitor cells (CFUc) in man by means of continuous-flow leukapheresis.
abstract: Continuous-flow leukapheresis using the AMINCO Celltrifuge was performed in 35 adult volunteers for the procurement of large quantities of granulocyte/macrophage progenitor cells (CFUc) as part of the mononuclear leucocytes. The donor blood volume processed was 12 1 at a flow rate of 50 ml per min. The centrifuge speed was 800 rpm. The mean yield of mononuclear cells (MNC) per run was 12.0 x 10(9) and that of CFUc, 8.7 x 10(5). The leukapheresis did not much affect the donor blood cell concentration except the platelet concentration; this must be considered as a limiting factor for leukapheresis. The mean granulocyte contamination of the leukapheresis-derived leucocytes was only about 10%. Successive leukaphereses (with short-term intervals) in 7 donors led to significant increases in CFUc yield. The possible therapeutic application of blood stem cells in the treatment of haemopoietic failure in man is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D006098:Granulocytes; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells; D006801:Humans; D007937:Leukapheresis / Q000379:methods*; D008264:Macrophages; D008297:Male