ANTI-THYMOCYTE GLOBULIN EFFECTIVE IN THE TREATMENT OF APLASTIC-ANEMIA DOES NOT STIMULATE GRANULOCYTE PRECURSOR CELLS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 9  (10) , 1028-1034
Abstract
To determine if preparations of anti-lymphocyte or anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG), successfully used for the treatment of patients with aplastic anemia, were stimulatory for hematopoietic precursor cells, the effect on CFUC [colony forming units] was studied in 30 normal bone marrow samples. Although in 2 of 30 cases stimulation was observed, the overall result for both the horse anti-lymphocyte globulin and the rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin was dose-dependent and complement-dependent inhibition. Neither in the absence nor in the presence of complement was there any indication of consistent stimulation of CFUC. When bone marrow was depleted of E-rosette forming cells, the incubation of the depleted fraction with ATG did not result in stimulation. The incubation of the E-rosette positive fraction with ATG, followed by the addition of these treated cells to untreated E-rosette depleted cells, was equally ineffective in giving any stimulation of CFUC. The effect of ATG in the treatment of aplastic anemia is probably not due to direct stimulation of hematopoietic precursor cells.