EFFECTS OF STEM-CELL FACTOR AND GRANULOCYTE-COLONY-STIMULATING FACTORON GRANULOCYTE RECOVERY AND CANDIDA-ALBICANS INFECTION IN GRANULOCYTOPENIC MICE

The combined action of stem,cell factor (SCF) and granulocyte colony-s timulating factor (G-CSF) on granulocyte recovery and infection with C andida albicans was studied. In mice rendered granulocytopenic with 20 0 mg/kg cyclophosphamide, daily coinjection of SCF (100 mug/kg) and G- CSF (10 mug/kg) for 5 days synergistically stimulated granulocyte reco very compared with either factor alone. Growth of C albicans in the ki dneys of granulocytopenic mice with experimental C. albicans infection was reduced by the combined regimen to 25% of that in vehicle-treated controls (P = .018), whereas either factor administered alone in the same doses had no effect. The combined regimen also significantly prot ected against lethal infection with C albicans (P < .0 1). Either fact or administered alone in the same doses had no effect on lethality com pared with vehicle-treated controls. The combination of SCF and G-CSF may be useful in the treatment of infections with C albicans in the gr anulocytopenic host.