Facilitation of functional compartmentalization of bone marrow cells in leukemic mice by biological response modifiers: an immunotherapeutic approach

Abstract

Biological Response Modifiers (BRMs) including interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) protected N, N′-ethylnitrosourea (ENU) induced leukaemic mice. Two cell types from the bone marrow were isolated in density specific gradient representing two distinct compartments, the low density cells being more CD34 positive than the high density group. Investigations with the functional efficacy of such compartments revealed significant improvement of cytotoxic efficacy and phagocytic burst at the high density compartment (HDC) level. The high density compartment was found to be more responsive towards the BRMs compared to the cells of the low density compartment (LDC). It was suggested that use of BRMs in vivo can stimulate a potent functional progenitor compartmentalization in normal as well as leukaemic mice. These observations are expected to help a logistic approach towards combined BRM therapy at the clinical level.