MOBILIZATION OF CD34(-COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR IN HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE 1-INFECTED ADULTS() PROGENITOR CELLS BY GRANULOCYTE)

We conducted a clinical trial to determine the feasibility of growth f actor mobilization of CD34(+) progenitor cells in human immunodeficien cy virus type 1 (HIV-l)-infected individuals. Eight asymptomatic, HIV- l-infected adults (median CD4(+) T-cell count, 415 cells/mu L), receiv ed 480 mu g/d of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for 6 d ays without evidence of viral activation. Despite concerns that HIV-1 might inhibit hematopoiesis, CD34(+) cells were successfully mobilized to the periphery of all donors, independent of the baseline CD4(+) T- cell count, and the status of antiretroviral therapy. Leukapheresis wa s performed on day 6, and yielded a median of 194 x 10(6) CD34(+) cell s per leukapheresis (n = 7). CD34-enriched cells from the leukapheresi s were predominantly myeloid-committed, but between 0.2% and 1.7% were primitive CD34(+)/CD38(-) progenitors. A median of 21.7% of the mobil ized CD34(+) cells were dimly positive for CD4. Consequently, CD34(+)- enriched cells were purified on the cell sorter (mean purity, 97.7%+/- 2.4%; n = 7), and examined for HIV-1 DNA. Purified CD34(+) cells from two of seven donors were polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive for HIV-1,but only from one of three samples from each donor. We conclude that G-CSF can safely mobilize CD34(+) progenitor cells in HIV-1-infec ted subjects, and that these cells are suitable for consideration in g ene-transfer strategies. (C) 1996 by The American Society of Hematolog y.