Changes in the T-helper cell 1/T-helper cell 2 balance of peripheral T-helper cells after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
The purpose of this study was to analyze changes in the T-helper cell 1/T-helper cell 2 (Th1/Th2) balance of peripheral T-helper cells after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (auto-PBSCT) for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and to evaluate the effects of chemotherapy and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on the Th1/Th2 balance. A series of peripheral blood samples from four patients with NHL were collected before peripheral blood stem cell harvest and after auto-PBSCT. Using flow cytometry, Th1 and Th2 cells were identified by their intracellular cytokines: interleukin (IL)-4-/interferon (IFN)-gamma+ and IL-4+/IFN-gamma-, respectively. The Th1/Th2 balance was estimated as the ratio of IL4-/IFN-gamma+ cells to IL-4+/IFN-gamma- cells. Although the Th1/Th2 balance decreased initially, it increased markedly 28 days after the cessation of G-CSF, following auto-PBSCT, in parallel with an increase in lymphocytes. This increase was mainly due to an increase in the proportion of Th1 cells. The Th1/Th2 balance did not change appreciably before PBSC harvest. Serum IFN-gamma increased after auto-PBSCT in three patients. These preliminary data demonstrate that, after auto-PBSCT for NHL, the Th1/Th2 balance decreases initially and then increases after 1 month to levels above pretreatment levels and that the effects of chemotherapy and G-CSF on the Th1/Th2 balance are negligible before PBSC harvest. Further evaluation of the Th1/Th2 balance after allogeneic PBSCT at the single-cell level should be undertaken using this method.
Mukai
M
M
Division of Clinical Immunology and Hematology, Department of Medicine, Sapporo City General Hospital, Kita 11-jo, Nishi 13-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8604, Japan. masaya-mukai@hokkaido.med.or.jp
Bohgaki
T
T
Kondo
M
M
Notoya
A
A
Kohno
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma