The effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on the activity of granulocyte enzymes in children with cancer who developed neutropenia after chemotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
G-CSF is a cytokine that stimulates the proliferation and maturation of granulocyte precursor cells. The results of in vitro and in vivo investigations conducted on animal models revealed that this cytokine influences the functions of mature granulocytes increasing the activities of the granulocyte enzymes participating in phagocytosis.


METHODS
The investigation was conducted on a group of 26 children (age: 1.5-17 years) with cancer who developed neutropenia after chemotherapy and were treated with G-CSF. The control group included 29 healthy children (age: 5-17 years). The heparinized blood samples were taken before the injection of the stimulator (time 0) and after the 2nd and 5th injection of G-CSF (on day 3 and 6). Activities of granulocyte enzymes involved in the process of phagocytosis (myeloperoxidase, acid and alkaline phosphatase and esterase) in blood smears were evaluated.


RESULTS
It has been found that G-CSF affects the activity of granulocyte enzymes by the normalization of decreased values of myeloperoxidase, acid phosphate and increasing the normal values of alkaline phosphate activity. The enzyme activities increased during the following days of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the obtained results, we can conclude that G-CSF activates the formation of fully competent granulocytes in cytostatic-treated children with various neoplastic diseases.
Czygier
M
M
Department of Biochemical Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, and Department of Pediatrics, J Sniadecki District Hospital, Bialystok, Poland.
Dakowicz
L
L
Szmitkowski
M
M
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000293:Adolescent; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D004950:Esterases / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004798:Enzymes; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D009195:Peroxidase; D004950:Esterases; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase