Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor enhances the expression of transforming growth factor-β mRNA in CD4-positive peripheral blood lymphocytes in the donors for allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

The degree of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (allo-PBSCT) has been observed to be, unexpectedly, of an equal level to that after bone marrow transplantation. To explain this phenomenon, we hypothesized that granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) administration may induce transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta producing T cells in the donors. Five donors received 10 mug/kg G-CSIF subcutaneously for 4 days. The TGF-beta mRNA expression in CD4(+) cells as measured by real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction increased after G-CSF administration. This elevation is considered to be one additive mechanism of repression of acute GVHD after allo-PBSCT. (C) 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.