Immune reconstitution following transplantation of autologous peripheral CD34+ cells.
The recovery of lymphocyte count, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subsets, natural killer (NK) cells and CD19+ B cells has been evaluated during the first 4 months after the infusion of autologous CD34+ peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC; group A; 33 patients) or autologous unselected PBPC (group B; 36 patients) for hematological malignancies. Lymphocyte count promptly recovered in both patient cohorts, although the repopulation of CD3+ T cells occurred more rapidly in group B compared with group A. The count of CD4+ T lymphocytes remained <200/microl during the study period in patients transplanted with CD34+ PBPC, being significantly lower compared with group B (p = 0.0019 and p = 0.0035 on days 30 and 60, respectively). CD8+ T cells rapidly increased both in group A and B and CD4 to CD8 ratio was severely reduced. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells displayed an activated phenotype in both groups of patients, coexpressing the HLA-DR antigen throughout the study period. No differences in the repopulation kinetics of NK cells and CD19+ B cells were observed. Further investigations are encouraged to characterize T cell competence following transplantation of CD34+ PBPC.
Sica
S
S
Department of Haematology, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
Laurenti
L
L
Sorà
F
F
Menichella
G
G
Rumi
C
C
Leone
G
G
Rutella
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000097:blood*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D019650:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization / Q000379:methods*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology; D007937:Leukapheresis / Q000379:methods; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014181:Transplantation Immunology; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000379:methods
D018952:Antigens, CD34