Mobilized and apheresis‐collected endothelial progenitor cells with plerixafor

• Published in: Journal of clinical apheresis Vol. 37; no. 3; pp. 245 - 252
• Main Authors: Perdomo, Susana, Brugnini, Andreina, Trias, Natalia, Menyou, Alba, Silveira, Gonzalo, Ranero, Sabrina, Lens, Daniela, Díaz, Lilián, Grille, Sofía
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.06.2022; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Antigens, CD34 - metabolism; Apheresis; Benzylamines; Blood Component Removal; Cyclams; endothelial progenitor cell; Endothelial Progenitor Cells - metabolism; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor - pharmacology; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor - therapeutic use; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization; Heterocyclic Compounds - pharmacology; Heterocyclic Compounds - therapeutic use; Humans; plerixafor; endothelial progenitor cell; plerixafor; apheresis
• ISSN: 0733-2459; 1098-1101; 1098-1101
• DOI: 10.1002/jca.21967

Background Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are immature cells able to proliferate and contribute to endothelial repair, vascular homeostasis, neovascularization, and angiogenesis. It therefore seems likely that circulating EPCs have therapeutic potential in ischemic and vascular diseases. In this study we evaluated the efficiency of EPC mobilization and collection by large volume leukapheresis in subjects with hematological diseases, treated with plerixafor in association with G‐CSF. Methods Twenty‐two patients with lymphoid malignancies underwent rHuG‐CSF and plerixafor treatment followed by leukapheresis. Blood samples before and after treatment and apheresis liquid sample were taken and analyzed by flow cytometry in order to quantified EPC. Results The percentage of CD34+ cells and EPCs among circulating total nuclear cells (TNCs) increased significantly by approximately 2‐fold and 3‐fold, respectively, after plerixafor treatment. Consequently, the absolute number of CD34+ cells and EPCs were increased 4‐fold after plerixafor treatment. The median PB concentration of EPCs before and after treatment were 0.77/μL (0.31‐2.15) and 3.41/μL (1.78‐4.54), respectively, P < .0001. The total EPCs collected per patient were 3.3×107 (0.8×107–6.8×107). Conclusion We have shown that plerixafor in combination with G‐CSF allows the mobilization and collection of large amounts of EPCs along with CD34+ cells in lymphoid neoplasm patients. The possibility to collect and to store these cells could represent a promising therapeutic tool for the treatment of ischemic complications without the need of in vitro expansion.