Expression of neutrophil antigens after 10 days of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor

BACKGROUND: Granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is becoming the standard agent for mobilizing granulocytes. Most granulocyte donors are given a single dose of G-CSF, but in some cases they are given G-CSF for several days, and multiple granulocyte concentrates are collected.The administration of a single dose of G-CSF induces several changes in the expression of neutrophil antigens, but the effects of multiple daily doses of G-CSF are not known. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Seven healthy people received 5 mu g per kg of G-CSF for 10 days.Their expression of several neutrophil antigens before, during, and after the administration of G-CSF was analyzed through the use of flow cytometry. RESULTS: The expression of L-selectin (CD62L), Fc gamma receptor (Fc gamma R) III (Fc gamma RIII, CD16), and the leukocyte function antigen (CD11a) decreased throughout the course of G-CSF administration, while the expression of Fc gamma RI (Fc gamma RI, CD64) and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein receptor (CD14) increased. The expression of Fc gamma R II (Fc gamma RII, CD32) also increased, but not until the fourth day of G-CSF administration.The expression of amino peptidase N (CD13), C3bi receptor (CD11b), and the neutrophil beta(2) integrin unit (CD18) did not change during the administration of G-CSF, but that of both CD13 and CD18 increased 3 days after the last dose. The expression of neutrophil-specific antigen NB1 initially increased, returned to pre-G-CSF levels after 4 days, and then increased again after 10 days of G-CSF administration. CONCLUSION: Changes in the expression of several neutrophil antigens occurred throughout a 10-day course of G-CSF. Most of the changes occurred after one dose, but additional changes occurred later in the 10-day course and after its completion. These changes may affect the function of G-CSF-mobilized granulocytes.