Distinct reconstitution of neutrophil functions after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
The study investigated in detail neutrophil functions shortly after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT).


METHODS
Different functions of neutrophils in 14 patients who received allogeneic PBSCT were investigated. The migratory capacity as well as the ability to induce oxidative burst following stimulation with either Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), the chemotactic peptide N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (f-MLP) or opsonized Escherichia coli was analysed after engraftment (between day +30 and +40) and compared with the results obtained from healthy volunteers.


RESULTS
There are no differences in terms of the migratory capacity (P = 0.17), as well as regarding the oxidative burst after incubation with PMA (P = 0.08) or f-MLP (P = 0.06), compared with healthy men. In contrast, the capacity of neutrophils to induce oxidative burst following stimulation with E. coli is highly impaired (P = 0.0001) in patients shortly after engraftment.


CONCLUSIONS
The recovery of neutrophils after allogeneic PBSCT is not only influenced by the varying time of engraftment, but also represents a process that differs in distinct biological functions compared to normal granulopoieses.
Scholl
S
S
Department of Internal Medicine II (Oncology and Hematology), Friedrich Schiller University, Erlanger Allee 101, 07740 Jena, Germany. sebastian.scholl@med.uni-jena.de
Hanke
M
M
Höffken
K
K
Sayer
H G
HG
D000328:Adult; D002465:Cell Movement; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018375:Neutrophil Activation; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D010587:Phagocytosis; D016897:Respiratory Burst; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning