title: Re-infused autologous graft natural killer cells correlates with absolute lymphocyte count recovery after autologous stem cell transplantation.
abstract: Early absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) has been reported to be a powerful prognostic indicator of survival after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). One possible source affecting ALC recovery includes the re-infused autologous graft lymphocytes (AGL). To assess if the re-infused AGL correlate with ALC recovery post-ASCT, we conducted a pilot study to identify which of the re-infused AGL subsets is most associated with day 15 ALC recovery in three patients with multiple myeloma and four patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient analysis (r), we compared absolute numbers of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, and CD16+/CD56+ cells/kg of body weight from the apheresis product with ALC (cells/microl) at day 15 post-ASCT. The main lymphocyte subsets identified in the apheresis product were T cells and NK cells. There was no strong correlation between T or B cells from the apheresis product compared with the ALC at day 15 post-ASCT (CD3, r = 0.21; CD4, r = 0.32; CD8, r = 0.39; and CD19, r = 0.14). However, there was good correlation between NK cells from the apheresis product compared with ALC at day 15 post-ASCT (CD16+/CD56+/CD3-, r = 0.77). These data provide preliminary evidence that the number of re-infused autologous graft NK cells in the apheresis product significantly affect ALC recovery early post-ASCT. However, given the small sample size, our results are primarily hypothesis generating and subject of further research.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street, SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Luis F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Porrata
authors.forename: Dennis A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gastineau
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Padley
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bundy
authors.forename: Svetomir N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Markovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000637:transplantation*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D017710:Lymphocyte Transfusion; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD