Hematopoietic recovery after IEV chemotherapy for malignant lymphoma followed by different cytokines can be monitored by analysis of G alpha 16 and CD34

The hematopoiesis-specific G protein alpha subunit G alpha 16 is a specific element in the signal transduction of the early hematopoietic cytokine net work. As G alpha 16 mRNA can be detected in early hematopoietic progenitor cells, RT-PCR for G alpha 16 can be used as a sensitive marker of hematopoi etic activity. The aim of this study was to test the possible use of Gale d eterminations for monitoring cytokine effects on hematopoietic recovery aft er chemotherapy in patients. We correlated presence of G alpha 16 mRNA and CD34 surface antigen with hematopoietic recovery in six lymphoma patients u ndergoing salvage therapy with different cytokine support (IEV followed by G-CSF, IL-3, or placebo). Regardless of different cytokine schedules with d ifferent time courses, hematopoietic recovery was always preceded by transc ription of Gale, Monitoring the expression of Ga16 mRNA by RT-PCR is a high ly sensitive diagnostic tool for analyzing hematopoietic recovery after che motherapy and for characterizing the effects of cytokines on hematopoiesis. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.