Estimation of kinetic parameters of neutrophilic, eosinophilic, and basophilic granulocytes in human blood

Abstract

Two hematologically normal patients with glioblastoma and six patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia received continuous 3H-thymidine infusions for 3--10 days. In autoradiographs of blood cell smears taken for 25 days or more after the beginning of 3H-thymidine administration the labeling index and the labeling intensity of granulocytes were determined. A sufficiently high labeling intensity, i.e. a sufficiently long autoradiographic exposure time was found to be critical for obtaining valid and reproducible results. On the basis of certain assumptions discussed in detail, complete labeling of cells with 3H-thymidine followed by autoradiographic evaluation and mathematical analysis of the labeling patterns seems to be a suitable method for estimation of kinetic parameters of postmitotic granulocytes in vivo. The mean intramedullary maturation and storage time was observed to be 115 +/- 7 h or neutrophils, 103 +/- 4 h for eosinophils and 103 +/- 11 h for basophils. The mean relative inflow rate into the blood (or relative turnover rate in the blood) was found to be 4.2 +/- 0.4/h for neutrophils, 4.0 +/- 0.4%/h for eosinophils and 1.2 +/- 0.3%/h for basophils. The mean blood transit time (or blood sojourn time) was estimated to be 25 +/- 2 h or neutrophils, 26 +/- 3 h for eosinophils and 89 +/- 21 h for basophils. Accordingly the half lifes (T 1/2) of granulocytes in the blood were 17.3 +/- 1.4 h for neutrophils, 18.0 +/- 2.1 for eosinophils and 62 +/- 15 h for basophils. Under the quasi steady state conditions of this study the kinetics of granulocytes in the present CLL patients appeared to be normal, despite a marked lymphocytic infiltration of the bone marrow. The apparent discrepancy between these findings and the data obtained with autotransfusion of DFP-labeled granulocytes is discussed.

Neutrophils in cancer: neutral no more

“…Indeed, pioneering work from Mantovani and his colleagues in the 1990s showed that many tumor-associated cytokines prolong neutrophil survival in culture 83 . In line with this, there is evidence that the half-life of circulating neutrophils is extended in cancer patients to 17 hours 84 , which may be the result of pro-survival signaling by G-CSF 20 . A longer life may give neutrophils more time to synthesize new molecules and perform additional effector functions during tumor progression.…”

Eosinophilic Granulocytes and Damage-associated Molecular Pattern Molecules (DAMPs)

“…12,18 Once in the circulation, eosinophils have a half-life of about 18 hours and a mean blood transit time similar to neutrophils (26 h). 19 …”

The Biology of Eosinophils and Their Role in Asthma

“…Eosinophils are present in relatively low numbers in peripheral blood, usually accounting for no more than 5% of the total white blood cell count (33). They have a relatively short blood half-life of approximately 18 h (34). Migration to specific body sites, including the lungs and intestines, is mediated by eosinophil chemoattractants such as eotaxins.…”