Functional characteristics of neutrophils collected and stored after administration of G-CSF.
BACKGROUND
Granulocyte transfusion may be used in neutropenic patients with severe bacterial or fungal infections that are unresponsive to antibiotic therapy. However, the inability to store granulocyte concentrates limits their clinical usefulness.


METHODS
Neutrophil chemotaxis and NADPH oxidase activity and the integrity of the neutrophil NADPH oxidase system were examined after apheresis collection and during storage to 48 hours. Neutrophils were mobilized in vivo by G-CSF, collected by apheresis techniques, and stored in apheresis bags in the presence and absence of additional G-CSF. For all experiments, cells were further purified by standard techniques of dextran sedimentation and hypotonic RBC lysis.


RESULTS
Neutrophil chemotaxis was preserved to 24 hours of storage but was not affected by the G-CSF added to storage units. The NADPH oxidase system was also preserved as a functioning complex, and both cytosolic proteins and membrane-associated proteins were normal to 48 hours. However, there were divergent responses by intact cells to activating stimuli and reduced oxidase activity in the cell-free system. G-CSF did not appear to significantly affect NADPH oxidase activity or NADPH oxidase system integrity during storage.


CONCLUSIONS
Neutrophils collected after the administration of G-CSF retained functional and biochemical characteristics for at least 24 hours of storage, which suggests additional effects of G-CSF mobilization beyond enhancing PMN yields and the possibility of storage of these components after collection.
Leavey
P J
PJ
Bonfils Blood Center and the Departments of Pediatrics and Immunology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO 80230, USA.
Thurman
G
G
Ambruso
D R
DR
D000328:Adult; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects; D003573:Cytochrome b Group / Q000378:metabolism; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000201:enzymology
D003573:Cytochrome b Group; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; C036888:cytochrome b558; D019255:NADPH Oxidases