Changes in the T-helper cell 1/T-helper cell 2 balance of peripheral T-helper cells after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

• Published in: Annals of hematology 2001-12, Vol.80 (12), p.715-721
• Main Authors: MUKAI, M, KOHNO, M, BOHGAKI, T, KONDO, M, NOTOYA, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Bone marrow, stem cells transplantation. Graft versus host reaction; Female; Flow Cytometry; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor - therapeutic use; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Interferon-gamma - blood; Interleukin-12 - blood; Interleukin-4 - blood; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Lymphocyte Count; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin - therapy; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Th1 Cells - immunology; Th2 Cells - immunology; Transfusions. Complications. Transfusion reactions. Cell and gene therapy; Transplantation, Autologous
• ISSN: 0939-5555; 1432-0584
• DOI: 10.1007/s00277-001-0382-y

The purpose of this study was to analyze changes in the T-helper cell 1/T-helper cell 2 (Th1/Th2) balance of peripheral T-helper cells after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (auto-PBSCT) for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and to evaluate the effects of chemotherapy and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on the Th1/Th2 balance. A series of peripheral blood samples from four patients with NHL were collected before peripheral blood stem cell harvest and after auto-PBSCT. Using flow cytometry, Th1 and Th2 cells were identified by their intracellular cytokines: interleukin (IL)-4-/interferon (IFN)-gamma+ and IL-4+/IFN-gamma-, respectively. The Th1/Th2 balance was estimated as the ratio of IL4-/IFN-gamma+ cells to IL-4+/IFN-gamma- cells. Although the Th1/Th2 balance decreased initially, it increased markedly 28 days after the cessation of G-CSF, following auto-PBSCT, in parallel with an increase in lymphocytes. This increase was mainly due to an increase in the proportion of Th1 cells. The Th1/Th2 balance did not change appreciably before PBSC harvest. Serum IFN-gamma increased after auto-PBSCT in three patients. These preliminary data demonstrate that, after auto-PBSCT for NHL, the Th1/Th2 balance decreases initially and then increases after 1 month to levels above pretreatment levels and that the effects of chemotherapy and G-CSF on the Th1/Th2 balance are negligible before PBSC harvest. Further evaluation of the Th1/Th2 balance after allogeneic PBSCT at the single-cell level should be undertaken using this method.