FMLP-INDUCED CD11B CD18 UP-REGULATION ON NEUTROPHILS FROM PATIENTS WITH NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMAS TREATED WITH RECOMBINANT HUMAN GRANULOCYTE-COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR/

The effects of rhG-CSF administration on fMLP-induced neutrophil CD11b and CD18 upregulation were studied in nine patients suffering from in termediate and high grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Blood samples were obtained before recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating facto r (rhG-CSF) administration and 24 hrs after rhGSF interruption. The gr owth factor was administered subcutaneously for five days in a dosage of 5 mu g/Kg/day. Nine normal subjects were studied as controls. Five patients showed an impaired baseline CD11b and CD18 upregulation, whic h was corrected by rhG-CSF therapy. Four patients showed a normal base line CD11b and CD18 upregulation, but this function was reduced by rhG -CSF therapy. All patients showed a normal baseline fMLP-induced lumin ol-enhanced chemiluminiscence and significantly increased chemilumines cence values after rhC-CSF administration. We conclude that, while in some patients rhg-CSF is able to improve neutrhophil CD11b and CD18 up regulation in response to chemotactic agents, in other patients a decr ease of this function can occur, maybe due to a relative immaturity of the circulating neutrophils induced by rhG-CSF.