Characterization and functional analysis of granulocyte concentrates collected from donors after repeated G-CSF stimulation.
BACKGROUND
Neutropenic patients often develop bacterial or fungal infections not responding to broad-spectrum antibacterial or antifungal agents. Clinical efforts were made with transfusion of granulocyte concentrates; however, functions of granulocytes after multiple G-CSF stimulations and after apheresis are not yet investigated and described sufficiently.


METHODS
The aim of this study was to characterize functional and immunologic variables of granulocytes in blood samples drawn from donors before and after each stimulation episode with G-CSF, in the resulting granulocyte concentrates and in the patients 8 hours after transfusion.


RESULTS
Chemotaxis was not influenced, neither by G-CSF application nor by apheresis. Multiple G-CSF stimulations enhanced oxidative burst and phagocytosis of Escherichia coli in donor granulocytes. These values returned to basal levels in granulocyte concentrates. Expression of granulocytic surface antigens was downregulated after application of G-CSF but returned to normal and in part enhanced values in concentrates. A clinically relevant increase of proinflammatory cytokines could not be detected. Leukotriene B4 production was reduced after the fourth G-CSF stimulation in the donor blood and enhanced in the granulocyte concentrate after apheresis. Results in recipients indicate that changes of granulocyte function noted in concentrates were only transient.


CONCLUSIONS
Stimulation of healthy donors with repeated G-CSF injections and subsequent granulocyte apheresis does not dramatically change decisive functions of granulocytes.
Joos
Katja
K
Department of Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
Herzog
Regina
R
Einsele
Hermann
H
Northoff
Hinnak
H
Neumeister
Birgid
B
D000328:Adult; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000097:blood; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D019650:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007937:Leukapheresis; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000187:drug effects; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D007975:Leukotriene B4