Effects of natural beta-interferon and recombinant alpha-2B-interferon on proliferation, glucocorticoid receptor content, and antigen expression in cultured HL-60 cells

In the current study, we investigated the effects of natural beta-interferon (beta-IFN) and recombinant alpha-2b-interferon (alpha-IFN) on the growth of the HL-60 cell line. Cells cultured in a medium that contains various concentrations (from 10 to 1000 IU/ml) of interferons showed a growth inhibition, which reaches the maximum after a 6-day treatment, at the highest dose used. Furthermore, we studied the effect of both beta-IFN and alpha-IFN on the level of glucocorticoid receptors. This was enhanced more than 30% with respect to control in HL-60 cells exposed for 24 hours to concentrations of beta-IFN that ranged from 100 to 1000 IU/ml. The increase of the receptor amount was seen even if cells were treated for 5 days, and was not accompanied by a modification of antigen expression of HL-60 cells. alpha-IFN did not modify the glucocorticoid receptor level substantially in our experimental conditions. Our data indicate that both beta-IFN and alpha-IFN regulate HL-60 cell proliferation. Additional studies are required to clarify if modifications of the receptor level induced by beta-IFN could be related to the modulation of hormone-sensitivity in this model.

Autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in hematological malignancies

Three patients (2 with high malignant non Hodgkin's lymphomas in partial remission and 1 with acute myeloblastic leukemia in 2nd complete remission) underwent autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT). The minimal number of mononuclear cells and CFU-GM collected was 6.18 x 10e8 and 19.77 x 10e4/kg b.w., respectively. Conditioning chemotherapy consisted in BEAM and CVB protocols in non Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients and busulphan and cyclophosphamide in acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) patients. All patients achieved complete remission. Bone marrow biopsy performed on day 14 showed complete engraftment. The time to reach 1 x 10e9/l WBC, 0.5 x 10e9/l neutrophil granulocytes and 50 x 10e9/l platelets was no longer than 11, 15 and 8 days, respectively. No major infectious episodes were evident during aplastic phase; fever greater than 38 degrees C was observed in two patients not lasting longer than 2 days. All patients are still in complete remission and continue to have normal hematological values (follow-up lasting 8+ and 3+ months for NHL patients and 4+ months for AML patient).

A preliminary survey of Italian experience on bone marrow harvesting, processing and manipulation. The Italian Cooperative Study Group on Cell Manipulation in Hematology

The following report describes the initial stage of the activity of the Italian Cooperative Study group on cellular manipulation in hematology consisting of a retrospective evaluation of data regarding bone marrow (BM) harvesting processing, and proceedings from 20 Italian Centers. Two thousand, three hundred and eighty-four BM have considered: 1073 were performed for autografts and 1311 for allografts. A cohort of adverse effects in marrow harvesting were reported by 7 Centers out of 20, including one death caused by tracheomalacia during the anesthesia. Twelve Centers used blood separators as a mean for marrow processing. Eight Centers used the RBC removal technique in major donor/recipient AB0 incompatibility. Ficol-Hipaque gradient was employed in 7 Centers. T-depletion were accomplished with monoclonal antibodies in 7 Centers and elutriation in two Centers. Fifteen Centers provided to purge the residual tumour cells with chemicals (11), immunological (4) and chemo-physical means (1).

Collection of peripheral blood stem cells using an automated discontinuous flow blood cell separator

Twenty collections of peripheral blood stem cells were performed in 3 patients (2 NHL, 1 AML) using the Haemonetics V50S discontinuous flow blood cell separator. A modified lymphocyte collection protocol (Nebraska Surge) was used in all instances. Leukapheresis were performed after 1 or 2 courses of chemotherapy and started when peripheral blood leukocytes count reached 1 x 10e9/l and platelets count 80 x 10e9/l. A mean blood volume of 5.9 +/- 0.6 litres was processed per procedure and the mean yields for mononuclear cells, nucleated cells and CFU-GM were respectively 5.4 +/- 1.4 x 10e9, 4.9 +/- 1.6 x 10e9 and 128.5 +/- 182.3 x 10e4 per procedure. Haemonetics V50S had showed a mean collection efficiency for mononuclear cells of 67.5 +/- 5.0% per procedure. Results obtained are not significantly different from the ones obtained with an automated continuous flow separator even if extracorporeal circulation is consistently high in patients with a low hematocrit when the 250 ml Latham Bowl is used.

Lymphocyte subset counting by immunoperoxidase using an automated routine hematologic analyzer

Using monoclonal antibodies against CD2, CD4, CD8 and CD19 antigens and an automated biotin-avidin immunoperoxidase technique on whole blood samples, we evaluated the technical performance and clinical usefulness of lymphocyte subset counting by the routine hematology analyzer Technicon H*1. Statistical evaluation demonstrated excellent precision and very good correlation with the immunofluorimetric flow cytometer Ortho Spectrum III. Correlation between manual immunofluorescence at the microscope and the H*1 method was much poorer, owing to the high intrinsic imprecision of the manual method. Reference ranges obtained with the H*1 immunoperoxidase method in 44 healthy subjects closely matched those obtained with the Spectrum III. In 46 subjects with or at risk for HIV infection, we found with the H*1 method a significant decrease in CD4+ cells and in the CD4+/CD8+ cell ratio, which was progressively more marked in HIV- negative patients with lymphadenopathic syndrome, AIDS-related complex, and in patients with full-blown AIDS.