BENEFICIAL EFFECT OF RECOMBINANT HUMAN GRANULOCYTE-COLONY-STIMULATINGFACTOR ON FUNGICIDAL ACTIVITY OF POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES FROM PATIENTS WITH AIDS

The effect of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) administration on the functional status of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) in neutropenic AIDS patients was investigated. PMNL destructive activity against Candida albicans or encapsulated or acap sular Cryptococcus neoformans was significantly impaired with respect to control subjects before rhG-CSF treatment. After subcutaneous admin istration of rhG-CSF (5 mu g/kg), neutrophil counts increased 3- to 11 -fold in 24 h and returned to baseline within 96 h. PMNL fungicidal ac tivity showed significant enhancement 48-72 h after rhG-CSF administra tion that decreased to baseline within 96 h. Enhanced rhG-CSF-mediated destructive activity strictly correlated with augmented superoxide an ion production by PMNL. These findings suggest that therapeutic use of rhG-CSF at appropriate schedules in neutropenic AIDS patients could d ecrease the risk of infection or, in association with antibiotic thera py, more rapidly resolve the occurring infections.