In Vitro Manipulation of Peripheral Blood Progenitor Cell Collections

Abstract

Mobilized peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) are increasingly used to reconstitute hematopoiesis in patients undergoing high-dose chemoradiotherapy. PBPC collections comprise a heterogeneous population containing both committed progenitors and pluripotent stem cells and can be harvested (i) in steady state, (ii) after chemotherapeutic conditioning, (iii) growth factor priming, or (iv) both. The use of PBPC has opened new therapeutic perspectives mainly related to the availability of large amounts of mobilized hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Extensive manipulation of the grafts, including the possibility of exploiting these cells as vehicles for gene therapy strategies, are now possible and will be reviewed.