Facilitation of functional compartmentalization of bone marrow cells in leukemic mice by biological response modifiers: an immunotherapeutic approach

Biological Response Modifiers (BRMs) including interleukin-2 (IL-2), interf eron-gamma (IFN-gamma) and sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) protected N,N ' -ethyl nitrosourea (ENU) induced leukaemic mice. Two cell types from the bone marr ow were isolated in density specific gradient representing two distinct com partments, the low density cells being more CD34 positive than the high den sity group. Investigations with the functional efficacy of such compartment s revealed significant improvement of cytotoxic efficacy and phagocytic bur st at the high density compartment (HDC) level. The high density compartmen t was found to be more responsive towards the BRMs compared to the cells of the low density compartment (LDC). It was suggested that use of BRMs in vi vo can stimulate a potent functional progenitor compartmentalization in nor mal as well as leukaemic mice. These observations are expected to help a lo gistic approach towards combined BRM therapy at the clinical level. (C) 200 1 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.