Phenotypic and functional lymphocyte recovery after CD34+-enriched versus non-t cell-depleted autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

To determine the effect of CD34(+) selection on immune recovery after high-dose chemo/radiotherapy in the setting of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), we analyzed quantitative and qualitative lymphocyte reconstitution for up to 1 year post-transplantation in 27 consecutive adult patients receiving either CD34(+)-enriched or unmanipulated autologous stem cell (SC) grafts. Pretransplant immunological parameters were identical for both treatment groups. Total lymphocyte counts as well as CD3(+) T cells provided a similar course of recovery in both cohorts, returning to baseline values within the first 3 months. There were no significant differences in the reconstitution kinetics of CD4(+), CD8(+), CD45RA(+), and CD45RO(+) T cells. CD4(+) and CD45RA(+) T cells between the two groups were significantly decreased within the first 6 months, returning to pretransplant baseline values by 1 year. Although within the first 3 months the majority of CD3(+) cells were activated as demonstrated by expression of HLA-DR, we observed a significant loss of CD25(+) T cells in both groups within the first 6 months. B cell numbers returned to baseline values within 3 months but in vivo B cell function measured by serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgA levels did not recover as early as 6 months post-transplantation. T cell function measured by proliferation in response to the lectins phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and Concanavalin A (ConA) and to alloantigens in the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) was significantly impaired, but tended to return to pretransplant baseline values by 1 year. Although preliminary, our results provide strong evidence that T cell depletion (TCD) by CD34(+) enrichment using the CellPro device does not result in delayed phenotypic immune reconstitution after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PB-SCT). Even in the absence of a high thymic T cell regenerative capacity in adults, T cell numbers and subset distributions were restored within the time frame studied. T and B cell function, however, remained significantly impaired for a prolonged period of time (>6 months after SCT) with a more profound defect in patients autografted with CD34(+)-enriched SC.