THE EFFECT OF RECOMBINANT GM-CSF ON THE RECOVERY OF MONKEYS TRANSPLANTED WITH AUTOLOGOUS BONE-MARROW

  • 1 November 1987
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 70  (5) , 1696-1699
Abstract
The regulatory function of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) on granulocyte production in vivo was evaluated in an autologous bone marrow transplantation model using rhesus monkeys. Monkeys were exposed to 9.0 Gy total body irradiation and then transplanted with 5.0 .times. 107 low-density bone marrow cells/kg. Alzet miniosmotic pumps were subcutaneously implanted to deliver rhGM-CSF at a rate of 50,400 U/kg/d. Minipumps, containing either rhGM-CSF or saline, were implanted between zero and five days after transplantation for seven days. Kinetic recoveries of peripheral blood cells after either saline or rhGM-CSF treatment were compared. Treatment with rhGM-CSF accelerated the recovery of neutrophils. Neutrophils in rhGM-CSF-treated animals recovered to 80% (3.4 .times. 103/mm3) pre-irradiation control levels by day 20, in comparison with only 33% (0.9 .times. 103/mm3) recovery for saline control monkeys. In addition, the recovery of neutrophils was enhanced over that of the controls, reaching 140% v 70% on day 30. Another prominent feature of rhGM-CSF-treated monkeys was the accelerated recovery of platelets, reaching near 50% normal levels by day 24 in comparison with 20 % of normal levels for controls. The infusion of rhGM-CSF was shown to be an effective regulator or early hematopoietic regeneration, leading to the accelerated recovery of both neutrophils and platelets and then providing a consistent sustained increase of neutrophils even in the absence of rhGM-CSF.