Plerixafor (AMD3100) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilize different CD34⁺ cell populations based on global gene and microRNA expression signatures

Abstract

Plerixafor (AMD3100) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilize peripheral blood stem cells by different mechanisms. A rhesus macaque model was used to compare plerixafor and G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells. Three peripheral blood stem cell concentrates were collected from 3 macaques treated with G-CSF, plerixafor, or plerixafor plus G-CSF. CD34⁺ cells were isolated by immunoselection and were analyzed by global gene and microRNA (miR) expression microarrays. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of the gene expression data separated the CD34⁺ cells into 3 groups based on mobilization regimen. Plerixafor-mobilized cells were enriched for B cells, T cells, and mast cell genes, and G-CSF–mobilized cells were enriched for neutrophils and mononuclear phagocyte genes. Genes up-regulated in plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells included many that were not up-regulated by either agent alone. Two hematopoietic progenitor cell miR, miR-10 and miR-126, and a dendritic cell miR, miR-155, were up-regulated in G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells. A pre-B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia miR, miR-143-3p, and a T-cell miR, miR-143-5p, were up-regulated in plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized cells. The composition of CD34⁺ cells is dependent on the mobilization protocol. Plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells include more B-, T-, and mast cell precursors, whereas G-CSF–mobilized cells have more neutrophil and mononuclear phagocyte precursors.

Introduction

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been the standard hematopoietic growth factor for increasing the levels for circulating hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in both healthy subjects donating cells for allogeneic transplantation and patients donating cells for autologous transplantation. G-CSF–mobilized HSCs collected by apheresis have been used for transplantation, immune therapy, and the treatment of cardiac ischemia. Another HSC-mobilizing agent, plerixafor (AMD3100), has been used in large animal models,^1,2 with G-CSF to mobilize stem cells for autologous transplants³ and is currently being evaluated as a single agent to mobilize HSCs for allogeneic donor transplants.⁴

The mechanisms by which plerixafor and G-CSF alter HSC trafficking and mobilize HSCs are different, suggesting that HSCs with different intrinsic properties may be mobilized by these agents. Plerixafor, as a CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) antagonist, mobilizes HSCs within 6 hours^5–7 by disrupting the engagement of stem cell surface CXCR4^8,9 with its ligand SDF-1 (CXCL12), which is expressed on marrow osteoblasts.^10,11 In contrast, G-CSF mobilizes stem cells indirectly by down-regulating the expression of CXCL12 on marrow osteoblasts and by releasing neutrophil and monocyte proteolytic enzymes, including neutrophil elastase, cathepsin G, and matrix metalloproteinase-9, which in turn degrade important HSC-trafficking and adhesion molecules c-kit, VCAM-1, and CXCR4.¹² Animal models suggest that plerixafor mobilizes a CD34⁺ cell population different from that mobilized by G-CSF,^2,13,14 due to differences in mechanisms of mobilization.

To explore differences between plerixafor and G-CSF mobilization, we used a rhesus macaque HSC-mobilization model to compare CD34⁺ cells mobilized by G-CSF and plerixafor. We also compared CD34⁺ cells mobilized with G-CSF and plerixafor in combination. The combination of G-CSF plus plerixafor was tested because it is being used clinically, and when these agents are used together, more CD34⁺ cells are mobilized than when either agent is used alone.^3,15 The CD34⁺ cells were compared using global gene and microRNA expression analysis.

Methods

Study design

Young rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) were studied before and after the completion of 3 different mobilization protocols. The protocols involved the administration of 5 days of G-CSF, one dose of plerixafor, and 5 days of G-CSF plus one dose of plerixafor. Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) concentrates were collected by apheresis after the mobilization protocol was complete. Three rhesus macaques were given all 3 mobilization protocols, and PBSCs were collected from each of these 3 animals. Each course of PBSC mobilization was separated by at least 6 weeks. Two monkeys were given plerixafor first, one was given G-CSF first, and all 3 were given plerixafor plus G-CSF last (Table 1). The CD34⁺ cells were isolated from the PBSCs by using CD34 monoclonal antibodies and magnetic particles. The CD34⁺ cells were analyzed using cDNA gene and miRNA expression microarrays.

Table 1.

Composition of PBSC products collected from 3 rhesus macaque and the yield of CD34⁺ cells isolated from each product

Mobilizing agents	Animal ID	Collection date	PBSC products		Isolated CD34+ cells
			Mononuclear cells/mL, ×109	Granulocytes/mL, ×109	Total no.	Purity (%)
G-CSF
	RQ4766	3/28/2008	49	163	1.5 × 107	86.5
	2RC104	1/22/2008	90	81	2.5 × 107	98.8
	RQ4963	1/23/2008	30	184	2.0 × 107	96.4
Mean ± SD			56 ± 31	143 ± 54	2.0 ± 0.5 × 107	93.9 ± 6.5
Plerixafor
	RQ4766	11/14/2007	103	30	1.5 × 107	82.0
	2RC104	3/11/2008	99	28	2.6 × 107	95.1
	RQ4963	10/31/2007	107	61	2.0 × 107	82.0
Mean ± SD			103 ± 4	40 ± 18	2.0 ± 0.6 × 107	86.4 ± 7.6
Plerixafor + G-CSF
	RQ4766	7/14/2008	63	215	8.9 × 107	78.8
	2RC104	7/12/2008	56	215	12.5 × 107	99.5
	RQ4963	7/16/2008	55	266	6.4 × 107	85.5
Mean ± SD			58 ± 4	233 ± 29	9.3 ± 3.1 × 107	88.0 ± 10.6

Mobilization and collection of PBSC concentrates

CD34⁺ cells were mobilized, and PBSC concentrates were collected from rhesus macaques that were housed and handled in accordance with the guidelines set by the Committee on Care and Use of Laboratory Animals of the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Council (DHHS publication no. NIH 85-23). The protocol was approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health.

G-CSF mobilization involved the administration of 10 μg/kg G-CSF (Filgrastim; Amgen) subcutaneously daily for 5 days. When plerixafor (Genzyme) was used to mobilize peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), a single dose of 1 mg/kg plerixafor was given subcutaneously, and when both G-CSF and plerixafor were given, 10 μg/kg G-CSF was given for 5 days and 1 mg/kg plerixafor was given on the fifth day. PBSC concentrates were collected by apheresis approximately 2 hours after the last dose of G-CSF or plerixafor. The PBSCs were collected using a CS3000 plus blood cell separator (Baxter Healthcare Corp, Fenwal Division).¹⁶ The concentrates were processed to remove contaminating red blood cells and granulocytes by using Ficoll gradient separation. CD34⁺ cells were isolated by immunomagnetic separation as previously described.¹⁶ Purification was determined following immunoselection using phycoerythrin-conjugated murine anti-rhesus/human CD34 antibody (clone 563; BD Biosciences), which recognizes a different epitope from that used in the immunoselection procedure. The processed CD34⁺ cells were frozen and stored at −80°C until analysis.

Analysis of gene expression with a 17 500 gene cDNA microarray

Total RNA was extracted from the rhesus samples and amplified into antisense RNA (aRNA). In addition, total RNA from human PBMCs pooled from 6 healthy subjects was extracted and amplified into aRNA to serve as a constant reference. Test and reference RNA were labeled with Cy5 (red) and Cy3 (green), respectively, and cohybridized to a custom-made 17.5K cDNA (UniGene cluster) microarray. The microarrays were printed in the Immunogenetics Section, Department of Transfusion Medicine (DTM), Clinical Center (CC), National Institutes of Health with a configuration of 32 × 24 × 23 and contained 17 500 elements. The clones used for printing the arrays included a combination of the Research Genetics RG_HsKG_031901 8k clone set and 9000 clones selected from the RG_Hs_seq_ver_070700 40k clone set. The 17 500 spots included 12 072 uniquely named genes, 875 duplicated genes, and approximately 4000 expression sequence tags. A complete list of genes included in the Hs-CCDTM-17.5k-1px printing is available at http://nciarray.nci.nih.gov/gal_files/index.shtml.

Analysis of miRNA expression with a microarray

Two μg total RNA from each sample were labeled with Hy5 and the reference sample (total RNA from Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines) with Hy3 by using a miRCURY LNA Array Power Labeling Kit (Exiqon) following the recommended protocol by the manufacturer's instruction. A commercially available miRNA probe set with 827 human, mouse, and Epstein-Barr virus miRNA was purchased from Ambion and printed onto the glass slides in the Immunogenetics Section of DTM. A complete list of miR included in our microRNA assay is available at http://nciarray.nci.nih.gov/gal_files/CCDTM-miRNA700-V3px-A.gal. After labeling, the sample and reference were cohybridized to the miRNA array at room temperature overnight. Both the processed cDNA and the miRNA array slides were scanned by using GenePix Pro 4.0 (Axon). Microarray data have been deposited with Gene Expression Omnibus under accession number GSE16936.

Data and statistical analysis

For analysis of the cDNA and miRNA array data, the raw dataset was filtered according to a standard procedure to exclude spots with minimum intensity. This filtering was arbitrarily set to an intensity parameter of 300 for cDNA expression data and 100 for miRNA array data in both fluorescence channels. Spots flagged by the analysis software and/or spots with diameters less than 25 μm for cDNA expression array and less than 10 μm for the miRNA array were excluded from the analysis.

The filtered data were normalized using Lowess Smoother and were retrieved by the BRB ArrayTool (http://linus.nci.nih.gov/BRB-ArrayTools.html) developed at the National Cancer Institute, Biometric Research Branch, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis. Hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted on the genes or miRNA by using Cluster and TreeView software.¹⁷ The relationships between the different groups of mobilized CD34⁺ cells were tested by applying unsupervised the Eisen hierarchical clustering method.¹⁷

For annotation of genes and functional pathways, the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) 2007 software (http://david.abcc.ncifcrf.gov/)¹⁸ and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway (http://www.genome.ad.jp/kegg) were used. All target prediction analysis used BRB ArrayTool mi-croRNA targets program (http://linus.nci.nih.gov/BRB-ArrayTools.html), TargetScan (http://www.targetscan.org), and miRBase Targets (http://microrna.sanger.ac.uk).

Results

PBSC mobilization and collection

The greatest quantities of CD34⁺ cells were isolated from plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized PBMC concentrates (Table 1). Similar quantities of CD34⁺ cells were isolated from G-CSF–mobilized and plerixafor-mobilized PBSC concentrates. Interestingly, the composition of the products differed with more mononuclear cells appearing in the plerixafor-mobilized products than either the G-CSF–mobilized or plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized products.

Gene expression analysis

Mobilized CD34⁺ cells and the peripheral blood leukocytes that were not absorbed with anti-CD34 were analyzed by gene expression profiling using a microarray with 17 500 cDNA probes. The 5378 genes that were expressed in 80% of these samples and whose expression was increased 2-fold or more in at least one sample were analyzed by unsupervised hierarchical clustering of Eisen (Figure 1). The samples clustered into 2 major groups: the CD34⁺ group, which included all 9 CD34⁺ cell samples, and the peripheral blood leukocyte group, which included all 9 unabsorbed leukocyte samples. Within the CD34⁺ cell group, a large cluster of genes were expressed at similar levels among all CD34⁺ cell samples. The expression of a second cluster of genes, however, differed among CD34⁺ cells. In fact, the CD34⁺ group was made up of 3 separate clusters: one group that contained all 3 G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cell samples and one plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cell sample, one group that contained 2 plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cell samples, and one that contained all 3 plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells samples. These results suggest that CD34⁺ cells mobilized by G-CSF alone and plerixafor alone differ and CD34⁺ cells mobilized by the combination of plerixafor plus G-CSF differed from those mobilized by either G-CSF alone or by plerixafor alone.

Figure 1.

Comparison of gene expression profiles of CD34⁺ cells mobilized with plerixafor, G-CSF, and plerixafor plus G-CSF with PBMCs. CD34⁺ cells were isolated by immunomagnetic selection from plerixafor, G-CSF, and plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized PBSCs collected by apheresis. The CD34⁺ cells and unabsorbed PBMCs were analyzed by gene expression profiling using a cDNA microarray with more than 17 000 genes. The 5378 genes that were expressed in at least 80% of the samples and were increased at least 2-fold in one sample were analyzed by hierarchical cluster of Eisen. G indicates G-CSF; A, plerixafor; A+G, plerixafor plus G-CSF.

To further explore the differences among the 3 types of CD34⁺ cells, we identify 1097 genes that were differentially expressed among the 3 types of CD34⁺ cells (F tests, P < .005). Hierarchical clustering analysis of the differentially expressedgenes separated the CD34⁺ cells into 3 clusters: one with all 3 G-CSF–mobilized samples, one with all 3 plerixafor-mobilized samples, and one with all 3 plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized samples (Figure 2). Although the CD34⁺ cells samples were clustered into 3 separate groups, according to mobilization protocol, the transcription profiles of the plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells were not simply a mixture of genes differently expressed by G-CSF–mobilized and plerixafor-mobilized cells. Although some genes that were up-regulated in plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells were also up-regulated in plerixafor-mobilized or G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells, many genes were only up-regulated in plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells (Figure 2). Similarly, many genes were only down-regulated in plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells (Figure 2). These results suggest that G-CSF, plerixafor, and the combination of plerixafor plus G-CSF mobilized 3 biologically distinct types of HSCs.

Figure 2.

Unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis of gene differentially expressed among CD34⁺ cells mobilized plerixafor, G-CSF, and plerixafor plus G-CSF in 3 rhesus macaques. The CD34⁺ cells were analyzed by gene expression profiling using a cDNA microarray with more than 17 000 genes. Among 5378 genes that were expressed in at least 80% of the samples and were increased at least 2-fold, 1097 were found to be differentially expressed in 3 clusters of CD34⁺ cells (F test, P ≤ .005). The differentially expressed genes were analyzed by hierarchical cluster of Eisen. G indicates G-CSF; A, plerixafor; A+G, plerixafor plus G-CSF.

Comparison of gene expression in G-CSF– and plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells

Student t tests were used to identify genes that were differentially expressed between G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells and plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells. The expression of 593 genes was greater in G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells than plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells, and the expression of 618 was greater in plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells (P < .05). Genes in the complement and coagulation cascades, Toll-like receptor signaling, ErbB signaling, acute myeloid leukemia, vascular endothelial growth factor signaling, and several metabolism and biosynthesis pathways were more likely to be up-regulated in G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells (Table 2). Up-regulated genes in plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells were more likely to include those in the T-cell receptor, primary immunodeficiency, TGF-beta signaling pathway, cell cycle, B-cell receptor, antigen presentation, and cell adhesion molecules signaling pathways. Genes in several pathways were up-regulated in both G-CSF– and plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells, including cytokine-cytokine interaction, Jak-STAT signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, hematopoietic cell lineage, natural killer cell (NK)–mediated cytotoxicity, Fc epsilon RI signaling, Wnt signaling, focal adhesion, and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction (Table 2).

Table 2.

KEGG pathways with the most genes up-regulated in G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells and plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells

Pathways with genes up-regulated by G-CSF		Pathways with genes up-regulated by plerixafor
Pathway	No. of genes in pathway	Pathway	No. of genes in pathway
Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction	30	Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction	29
Jak-STAT signaling pathway	25	Calcium signaling pathway	27
MAPK signaling pathway	24	T-cell receptor signaling pathway	27
Focal adhesion	22	Hematopoietic cell lineage	24
Insulin signaling pathway	21	Wnt signaling pathway	22
Hematopoietic cell lineage	20	Primary immunodeficiency	21
Natural killer cell–mediated cytotoxicity	19	Cell cycle	20
Purine metabolism	19	MAPK signaling pathway	20
ErbB signaling pathway	16	Focal adhesion	19
VEGF signaling pathway	15	Natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicity	19
Regulation of actin cytoskeleton	14	TGF-beta signaling pathway	19
Toll-like receptor signaling pathway	14	Fc epsilon RI signaling pathway	18
Tyrosine metabolism	14	Jak-STAT signaling pathway	18
Acute myeloid leukemia	13	GnRH signaling pathway	15
Fc epsilon RI signaling pathway	13	Cell adhesion molecules	14
GnRH signaling pathway	13	Tight junction	13
Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction	13	Adherens junction	12
Wnt signaling pathway	13	Antigen processing and presentation	12
Calcium signaling pathway	12	B-cell receptor signaling pathway	12
Complement and coagulation cascades	12	Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction	12
Fructose and mannose metabolism	12	Gap junction	11
Glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism	12	Long-term depression	11
Leukocyte transendothelial migration	12	Melanogenesis	11
Melanogenesis	12	Regulation of actin cytoskeleton	11

Comparison of the specific genes up-regulated in G-CSF–mobilized and plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells revealed that the genes maximally up-regulated by G-CSF included the neutrophil genes, neutrophil cytosolic factor 4 (NCF4) and proteinase 3 (PR3), and the NK-cell gene Fc-gamma receptor IIIa (CD16a; Table 3). G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells were also more likely to express mononuclear phagocyte genes CX3CR1, cathepsin L (CTSL), and lymphotoxin B receptor precursor. Genes expressed by several types of leukocytes that were up-regulated in G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells included Fc-gamma receptor IIb, which is expressed by neutrophils and B cells; cystatin F, which is expressed by NK cells and mononuclear phagocytes; and IL-21 receptor, which is expressed by T cells, B cells, NK cells, and mononuclear phagocytes. Analysis of the expression of CTSL by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) confirmed that CTSL expression was greater in G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells than in plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells (Figure 3). The level of CTSL expressed by plerixafor plus G-CSF– and G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells were similar.

Table 3.

Genes whose expression was increased the greatest in G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells compared with plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells

Gene		Fold increase*	P
NCF4	Neutrophil cytosolic factor 4, 40 kDa	9.04	5.30 × 10−6
VNN2	Vanin 2	7.57	7.90 × 10−6
PRTN3	Proteinase 3 (serine proteinase, neutrophil, Wegener granulomatosis autoantigen)	7.25	4.49 × 10−4
LTBR	Lymphotoxin-beta receptor precursor = tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 related protein = tumor necrosis factor C receptor	7.23	1.33 × 10−4
CST7	Cystatin F (leukocystatin) (inhibits cathepsins)	7.05	9.00 × 10−6
FCGR3A	CD16 = Fc-gamma receptor IIIa	7.00	2.60 × 10−5
CTSL	Cathepsin L	6.50	8.00 × 10−7
ANXA3	Annexin A3	6.17	1.17 × 10−4
CST7	Cystatin F (leukocystatin)	5.83	5.80 × 10−6
TSPYL2	TSPY-like 2	4.73	8.58 × 10−4
HSPA1B	Heat shock 70-kDa protein 1B	4.67	.012
ANXA3	Annexin A3	4.64	8.42 × 10−5
DYSF	Dysferlin, limb girdle muscular dystrophy 2B (autosomal recessive)	4.65	1.47 × 10−3
CLU	Clusterin	4.51	8.50 × 10−6
MYCO	Myocilin, trabecular meshwork inducible glucocorticoid response	4.23	1.20 × 10−3
PPBP	CTAP-III = NAP2 = connective tissue activation peptide III = pro-platelet basic protein	4.09	6.47 × 10−3
C1QB	Complement component 1, q subcomponent, B chain	4.00	4.14 × 10−3
RNASE2	Ribonuclease, RNase A family, 2 (liver, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin)	3.99	7.57 × 10−4
GOS2	putative lymphocyte G0/G1 switch gene	3.96	8.50 × 10−5
TNFRSF1	Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 14 (herpesvirus entry mediator)	3.84	3.72 × 10−4
CXCL2	Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand	3.65	6.73 × 10−4
FCGR2B	Low-affinity IgG Fc receptor II-B and C isoforms	3.61	1.98 × 10−4
IL21R	Interleukin-21 receptor	3.55	3.12 × 10−4
CX3CR1	Chemokine (C-X3-C motif) receptor 1	3.52	1.20 × 10−4
SLCIA5	Solute carrier family 1 (neutral amino acid transporter), member 5	3.35	2.43 × 10−4
PTRF	Polymerase I and transcript release factor	3.28	3.92 × 10−5

^*The fold increase for each gene is the average expression of each gene in G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells from 3 rhesus macaque divided by the average expression of the same gene in plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells from 3 monkeys.

Figure 3.

Analysis of differentially expressed mobilized CD34⁺ cells genes by qRT-PCR. The expression of 5 genes (FLT3, HOXA9, PTGS2, CXCR4, and CTSL) in CD34⁺ cells from the 3 rhesus macaque mobilized by plerixafor (A), G-CSF (G), or plerixafor plus G-CSF (A+G) were analyzed by qRT-PCR. The expression of CXCR4 was greater in plerixafor and plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells. The expression of CTSL was greater on G-CSF– and G-CSF plus plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells. FLT3 expression was greatest on plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells, and the expression of PTGS2 was greatest on plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized cells. The level of expression of HOXA9 by the 3 types of CD34⁺ cells was similar but much greater than peripheral blood leukocytes. The expression of the 5 genes in leukocytes that were not absorbed by anti-CD34 from the 9 mobilized PBSC concentrates (CD34⁻) are shown as a control.

The genes differentially up-regulated most by plerixafor included several copies of CXCR4, which is expressed by hematopoietic stem cells, T cells, B cells, monocytes, and neutrophils. Other plerixafor up-regulated genes included the B-cell genes CD79A, interleukin-7 receptor, Epstein-Barr virus–induced gene 2, and Bruton agammaglobulinemia tyrosine kinase; a T-cell gene, T-cell receptor–associated transmembrane adaptor 1; and a mast cell gene, Fc receptor of IgE 1a (Table 4). In addition, the expression of the HSC marker Fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) was up-regulated in plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells. Analysis of CXCR4 and FLT3 expression by qRT-PCR confirmed that the expression of both was greater in plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells than G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells (Figure 3). These results suggest that G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells are more likely to include neutrophil and macrophage precursors, and plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells are more likely to contain T-cell, B-cell, and mast cell precursors.

Table 4.

Genes whose expression was increased the greatest in plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells compared with G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells

Gene		Fold increase*	P
ICSBP1	Interferon consensus sequence binding protein 1	6.14	9.20 × 10−6
BLNK	B-cell linker	5.99	1.30 × 10−6
CXCR4	CXC chemokine receptor 4	5.17	1.17 × 10−5
CXCR4	CXC chemokine receptor 4	5.07	4.80 × 10−6
CDK5R1	Cyclin-dependent kinase 5, regulatory subunit 1 (p35)	4.62	3.80 × 10−6
TP53I11	Tumor protein p53 inducible protein 11	4.35	8.40 × 10−6
SMAD7	Homologue of Mothers Against Decapentaplegic (MAD) = negative regulator of TGF-beta signaling	4.19	8.90 × 10−6
FLT3	Fms-related tyrosine kinase 3	3.44	2.05 × 10−6
CXCR4	CXC chemokine receptor 4	3.32	2.49 × 10−4
LDB2	LIM domain binding 2	3.23	3.24 × 10−4
COG1	Component of oligomeric golgi complex 1	3.12	3.15 × 10−5
DCN	Decorin	3.04	5.96 × 10−5
IL23A	Enhancer of polycomb homolog 1 (Drosophila)	2.95	3.58 × 10−3
AGTRL1	Angiotensin II receptor-like 1	2.92	4.68 × 10−4
SPIB	Spi-B transcription factor	2.91	5.17 × 10−4
EBI2	Epstein-Barr virus–induced gene 2 (lymphocyte-specific G protein–coupled receptor)	2.90	1.81 × 10−4
IL7R	Interleukin-7 receptor	2.86	1.81 × 10−4
TRAT1	T-cell receptor–associated transmembrane adaptor 1	2.83	.014
GAP43	Growth associated protein 43	2.82	7.42 × 10−4
CD79A	CD79A, BCR alpha chain = mb-1	2.95	3.58 × 10−3
TIEG	TGF-beta inducible early protein	2.75	1.84 × 10−4
IL18R1	Interleukin-18 receptor 1	2.73	8.62 × 10−3
SMARCD	SWI/SNF related, matrix associated, actin dependent regulator of chromatin, subfamily d, member 2	2.73	2.73 × 10−3
BTK	Btk = Bruton agammaglobulinemia tyrosine kinase	2.72	2.67 × 10−3
FCER1A	Fc fragment of IgE, high affinity I, receptor for; alpha polypeptide	2.67	.037
KHDRBS3	KH domain containing, RNA binding, signal transduction associated 3	2.63	3.46 × 10−3

^*The fold increase for each gene is the average expression of each gene in plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells from 3 rhesus macaque divided by the average expression of the same gene in G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells from 3 monkeys.

Gene expression analysis of CD34⁺ cells mobilized by plerixafor plus G-CSF

To assess the nature of CD34⁺ cells mobilized by the combination of plerixafor plus G-CSF, we combined the gene expression results from CD34⁺ cells mobilized with G-CSF alone and with plerixafor alone, and compared this dataset with CD34⁺ cells mobilized with plerixafor plus G-CSF. A total of 1375 genes were up-regulated in plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells compared with those mobilized with G-CSF alone and plerixafor alone, and 1449 were up-regulated in CD34⁺ cells regulated with G-CSF alone and plerixafor alone (t tests, P < .05).

Analysis of the pathways that contained the most genes up-regulated in CD34⁺ cells found that the genes up-regulated in the plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells were more likely to belong to B-cell signaling, Fc epsilon RI signaling, Toll-like receptor, and cell cycle (Table 5). Those down-regulated in the plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells were more likely to belong to ribosome, antigen processing and presentation, and vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathways.

Table 5.

KEGG pathways with the most genes up-regulated and down-regulated in CD34⁺ cells mobilized by plerixafor plus G-CSF compared with those mobilized by plerixafor alone and G-CSF alone

Pathways with genes up-regulated by plerixafor plus G-CSF		Pathways with genes down-regulated by plerixafor plus G-CSF
Pathway	No. of up-regulated genes in pathway	Pathway	No. of down-regulated genes in pathway
Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction	68	MAPK signaling pathway	51
MAPK signaling pathway	63	Focal adhesion	46
Natural killer cell–mediated cytotoxicity	41	Oxidative phosphorylation	40
Jak-STAT signaling pathway	39	Calcium signaling pathway	37
Focal adhesion	33	Ribosome	36
Leukocyte transendothelial migration	33	Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction	33
Regulation of actin cytoskeleton	32	Wnt signaling pathway	33
Insulin signaling pathway	29	Tight junction	31
Cell cycle	28	Jak-STAT signaling pathway	29
Gap junction	28	Cell adhesion molecules	28
Calcium signaling pathway	25	Natural killer cell–mediated cytotoxicity	28
Fc epsilon RI signaling pathway	25	Insulin signaling pathway	27
Oxidative phosphorylation	25	Axon guidance	26
Ubiquitin mediated proteolysis	25	ErbB signaling pathway	25
T-cell receptor signaling pathway	24	Small cell lung cancer	25
B-cell receptor signaling pathway	22	Antigen processing and presentation	23
Cell adhesion molecules	22	Leukocyte transendothelial migration	23
Toll-like receptor signaling pathway	22	Gap junction	22
Wnt signaling pathway	22	Hematopoietic cell lineage	22
GnRH signaling pathway	21	Long-term depression	22
Melanogenesis	21	Regulation of actin cytoskeleton	22
Tight junction	21	VEGF signaling pathway	22
Apoptosis	20	Colorectal cancer	21
Hematopoietic cell lineage	20	T-cell receptor signaling pathway	21
Pathogenic Escherichia coli infection—EHEC	20	Ubiquitin mediated proteolysis	21

Analysis of the specific genes up-regulated in plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells found that, when compared with G-CSF alone and plerixafor alone mobilized CD34⁺ cells, plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells expressed increased levels of B-cell genes: immunoglobulin alpha heavy chain constant region, Bruton agammaglobulinemia tyrosine kinase, and immunoglobulin gamma 3 heavy chain constant region (Table 6). In addition, the T-cell gene granzyme A; the HSC gene HOXA9; an NK cell gene, lectin-like NK-cell receptor (LLT1); and a gene encoding a protein found in the extracellular matrix and macrophages tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP3) were up-regulated (Table 6). The CD34⁺ cell genes up-regulated most by plerixafor plus G-CSF also included prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) or cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), an important enzyme in arachidonic acid metabolism and prostaglandin production. Analysis of PTGS2 and HOXA9 expression by qRT-PCR confirmed that the expression of PTGS2 was greater in plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells than in those mobilized by plerixafor alone or G-CSF alone (Figure 3). The expression of HOXA9 was similar among CD34⁺ cells mobilized by each of the 3 regimens but was much greater than that for peripheral blood leukocytes (Figure 3).

Table 6.

Genes whose expression was increased the greatest in plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells compared with those mobilized by plerixafor alone and G-CSF alone

Gene	Description	Fold increase*	Parametric P
MGC27165	Immunoglobulin alpha (1 or 2) heavy chain constant region	9.04	2.45 × 10−4
BTK	btk = Bruton agammaglobulinemia tyrosine kinase	5.13	< 1 × 10−7
PILRB	Similar to hCG2024106	5.07	2.70 × 10−6
IGHG3	Immunoglobulin gamma 3 heavy chain constant region	5.04	3.26 × 10−3
IL1R2	Interleukin 1 receptor, type II	4.82	2.69 × 10−4
GNA14	G alpha 14 = guanine nucleotide binding protein alpha 14	4.72	<1 × 10−7
ULK2	Unc-51-like kinase 2 (C. elegans)	4.26	1.27 × 10−3
BAI3	Brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 3	4.16	3.92 × 10−4
IL8	Interleukin 8	3.98	2.28 × 10−4
HRASLS3	HRAS-like suppressor 3	3.68	2.24 × 10−4
PTGS2	Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (prostaglandin G/H synthase and cyclooxygenase)	3.67	1.61 × 10−4
PPM1A	Protein phosphatase 1A (formerly 2C), magnesium-dependent, alpha isoform	3.61	1.30 × 10−6
CYP3A7	Cytochrome P450, family 3, subfamily A, polypeptide 7	3.59	1.45 × 10−5
CCR1	Chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 1	3.58	1.31 × 10−3
CX3CR1	Chemokine (C-X3-C motif) receptor 1	3.58	1.39 × 10−3
UBE2K	Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2K (UBC1 homolog, yeast)	3.43	3.00 × 10−7
RPL3L	Ribosomal protein L3-like	3.42	3.00 × 10−7
HOXA9	Homeobox A9	3.40	2.10 × 10−4
TMSB10	Thymosin beta 10	3.38	1.34 × 10−3
ZNF644	Zinc finger protein 644	3.34	1.74 × 10−3
HIRA	HIR histone cell-cycle regulation defective homolog A (S cerevisiae)	3.31	2.33 × 10−5
LLT1	Lectin-like NK-cell receptor	3.30	4.62 × 10−5
PRDM15	PR domain containing 15	3.23	2.82 × 10−4
TIMP3	Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (Sorsby fundus dystrophy, pseudoinflammatory)	3.19	2.26 × 10−4
ACACA	Acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase alpha	3.14	2.70 × 10−6
GZMA	Granzyme A (granzyme 1, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated serine esterase 3)	3.12	1.19 × 10−3
ICOS	Inducible T-cell co-stimulator	3.09	2.63 × 10−4
CYP1B1	Cytochrome P450, family 1, subfamily B, polypeptide 1	3.05	3.64 × 10−5
LYN	Lyn = tyrosine kinase	3.02	8.78 × 10−5
GPA33	Glycoprotein A33 (transmembrane)	3.02	1.74 × 10−4

^*The fold increase for each gene is the average expression in the plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells from 3 rhesus divided by the average expression of the same gene in the CD34⁺ cells mobilized by plerixafor from 3 monkeys and CD34⁺ cells mobilized by G-CSF from 3 monkeys.

We also identified the genes that were down-regulated most in plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells. Among the genes down-regulated most in plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells were a number of ribosomal protein genes, cathepsin S (an enzyme important for antigen processing), neutrophil receptor formyl peptide receptor 1, bone morphogenic protein 2, laminin, and gamma 3 (Table 7).

Table 7.

Genes whose expression was decreased the greatest in plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells compared with those mobilized by plerixafor alone and G-CSF alone

Gene symbol	Description	Fold decrease*	Parametric P
CTSS	Cathepsin S	13.95	< 1 × 10−7
C9orf3	Chromosome 9 open reading frame 3	7.64	2.16 × 10−4
NTRK2	Neurotrophic tyrosine kinase, receptor, type 2	5.82	< 1 × 10−7
NMT1	N-myristoyltransferase 1	5.64	2.00 × 10−7
SCN1B	Sodium channel, voltage-gated, type I, beta	5.34	< 1 × 10−7
IL16	Interleukin 16 (lymphocyte chemoattractant factor)	4.98	1.20 × 10−6
CYP27B1	Cytochrome P450, family 27, subfamily B, polypeptide 1	4.56	2.35 × 10−4
KNS2	kinesin 2 (60-70 kDa)	4.45	1.18 × 10−4
SMARCD2	SWI/SNF related, matrix associated, actin dependent regulator of chromatin, subfamily d, member 2	4.373	6.81 × 10−4
CCL25	TECK chemokine (CCL25)	4.27	8.89 × 10−5
PFDN6	Prefoldin subunit 6	4.26	2.53 × 10−3
EIF5A	Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A	4.24	6.40 × 10−5
TYMS	Thymidylate synthetase	4.23	2.20 × 10−6
OCLN	Occludin = tight junction protein	4.21	2.35 × 10−4
NAT2	N-acetyltransferase 2 (arylamine N-acetyltransferase)	4.09	8.14 × 10−4
RPL23	Ribosomal protein L23	4.04	6.20 × 10−6
WISP2	WNT1 inducible signaling pathway protein 2	4.01	1.20 × 10−6
MVD	Mevalonate (diphospho) decarboxylase	3.84	2.33 × 10−5
BMP2	Bone morphogenetic protein 2	3.79	3.03 × 10−4
UXT	Ubiquitously expressed transcript	3.78	2.80 × 10−6
IQGAP1	IQ motif containing GTPase activating protein 1	3.67	4.00 × 10−6
KCNA5	Potassium voltage-gated channel, shaker-related subfamily, member 5	3.67	1.80 × 10−3
RPS27A	Ribosomal protein S27a = fused to ubiquitin	3.60	1.00 × 10−5
ECH1	Enoyl coenzyme A hydratase 1, peroxisomal	3.52	2.10 × 10−6
FPR1	Formyl peptide receptor 1	3.41	8.60 × 10−6
STAP2	Signal transducing adaptor family member 2	3.36	3.15 × 10−4
ZNF525	Zinc finger protein 525	3.27	8.30 × 10−5
LAMC3	Laminin, gamma 3	3.23	1.03 × 10−3
DES	Desmin	3.18	1.78 × 10−5
RPS15	Ribosomal protein S15	3.17	2.80 × 10−6

^*The fold decrease for each gene is the average expression in the plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells from 3 rhesus divided by the average expression of the same gene in the CD34⁺ cells mobilized by plerixafor from 3 monkeys and CD34⁺ cells mobilized by G-CSF from 3 monkeys.

MIR expression analysis

A comparison of differentially expressed miR between plerixafor- and G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells found that 2 miR were up-regulated in plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells, miR-34c and miR-432 (Table 8). A miR, miR-126, that was previously found to be up-regulated in G-CSF–mobilized peripheral blood CD34⁺ cells compared with peripheral blood leukocytes¹⁹ was up-regulated in G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells compared with plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells (Table 8). The expression of miR-155, which is up-regulated during macrophage activation,²⁰ was also greater in G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells. In addition, among the miR up-regulated in G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells were miR-21, miR-129-3p, miR-146b, miR-99a, miR-126*, and miR-10a*.

Table 8.

miRs that were differently expressed between plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells and G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells

Increased in plerixafor-mobilized CD34+ cells			Increased in G-CSF–mobilized CD34+ cells
miR	Fold increase*	P	miR	Fold increase†	P
hsa-miR-34c	1.69	.031	hsa-miR-21	3.67	1.72 × 10−4
hsa-miR-432*	1.45	.032	hsa-miR-126*	2.80	1.21 × 10−3
			mmu-miR-129-3p	2.62	3.67 × 10−3
			hsa-miR-146b	2.31	1.35 × 10−3
			hsa-miR-99a	2.13	.011
			hsa-miR-126*	2.08	9.23 × 10−3
			hsa-miR-10a*	1.98	.019
			hsa-miR-424	1.90	8.57 × 10−3
			hsa-miR-126	1.70	.041
			hsa-miR-155	1.65	.033
			hsa-miR-335	1.55	.049

^*The fold increase is the average expression of each microRNA in CD34⁺ cells from 3 rhesus macaque given plerixafor divided by the average expression of the same microRNA in 3 monkeys given G-CSF.

^†The fold increase is the average expression of each microRNA in CD34⁺ cells from 3 rhesus macaque given G-CSF divided by the average expression of the same microRNA in 3 monkeys given plerixafor.

We also identified miRs differentially expressed between CD34⁺ cells mobilized by plerixafor plus G-CSF and those mobilized by G-CSF alone and plerixafor alone. The levels of miR-126* and miR-142-3p were greater in plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells than in those mobilized by either G-CSF alone (Table 9) or plerixafor alone (Table 10). The expression of miR-21 was also increased in plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells compared with plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells (Table 10).

Table 9.

miRs that were differently expressed between plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells and those mobilized with G-CSF alone

Increased in plerixafor + G-CSF–mobilized CD34+ cells			Increased in G-CSF–mobilized CD34+ cells
miR	Fold increase*	P	miR	Fold increase†	P
hsa-miR-142-3p	3.27	3.34 × 10−3	sv40-miR-S1-5p	2.56	3.17 × 10−3
hsa-miR-142-3p	3.15	3.04 × 10−3	hsa-miR-335	2.17	.045
hsa-miR-142-5p	2.91	3.95 × 10−3	hsa-mir-615	2.00	.03
hsa-miR-29b	2.36	7.71 × 10−3	hsa-miR-363*	1.94	.012
hsa-miR-101	2.34	8.77 × 10−3	mmu-miR-10b	1.81	.012
hsa-miR-525	2.18	8.19 × 10−3	mmu-mir-691	1.80	.01
hsa-mir-622	2.16	.019	hsa-miR-299-3p	1.77	.018
hsa-miR-487b	2.15	9.93 × 10−3	mmu-miR-346	1.72	8.92 × 10−3
hsa-miR-126*	2.11	9.92 × 10−3	mmu-mir-615	1.71	.01
hsa-miR-199b	2.10	.012	hsa-miR-320	1.61	.031
mmu-mir-804	2.09	0.016	hcmv-miR-UL70-3p	1.56	.03
hsa-miR-486	2.08	3.63 × 10−3	kshv-miR-K12-10a	1.54	.038
hsa-miR-197	1.99	6.74 × 10−3	hsa-miR-518f*	1.54	.029
hsa-miR-19a	1.98	.01	mmu-mir-423	1.51	.044
rno-miR-343	1.97	.015	hsa-mir-765	1.47	.048
hsa-miR-15a	1.97	.011
hsa-miR-19b	1.96	.012
hsa-miR-29c	1.87	.026
hsa-miR-27a	1.74	.017
hsa-miR-374	1.71	.027
hsa-miR-30e-5p	1.70	.044
hsa-miR-29a	1.68	.029
hsa-mir-662	1.66	.02
mmu-miR-489	1.63	.025
hsa-mir-421	1.60	.03
hsa-miR-20a	1.60	.025
hsa-miR-106a	1.59	.022
hsa-miR-203	1.58	.032
hsa-miR-20b	1.58	.023
ebv-mir-BART3	1.57	.022
hsa-miR-17-5p	1.55	.034

^*The fold increase is the average expression of each microRNA in CD34⁺ cells from 3 rhesus macaque given plerixafor plus G-CSF divided by the average expression of the same microRNA in CD34⁺ cells from 3 monkeys given G-CSF.

^†The fold increase is the average expression of each microRNA CD34⁺ cells from 3 rhesus given G-CSF divided by the average expression of the same microRNA in CD34⁺ cells from 3 monkeys given plerixafor plus G-CSF.

Table 10.

miRs that were differently expressed between plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells and those mobilized with plerixafor alone

Increased in plerixafor + G-CSF–mobilized CD34+ cells			Increased in plerixafor-mobilized CD34+ cells
miR	Fold increase*	P	miR	Fold increase†	P
hsa-miR-21	5.98	4.29 × 10−5	hsa-mir-615	2.06	.0305
hsa-miR-126*	3.91	1.6 × 10−3	mmu-miR-329	2.01	.0210
hsa-miR-126	3.34	2.90 × 10−4	sv40-miR-S1-5p	1.88	.0129
hsa-miR-142-3p	2.88	8.98 × 10−4	kshv-miR-K12-1	1.79	.0143
hsa-miR-142-3p	2.75	1.03 × 10−3	kshv-miR-K12-10a	1.78	.0103
hsa-miR-29b	2.57	2.92 × 10−3	mmu-mir-709	1.69	.0235
hsa-miR-142-5p	2.56	1.22 × 10−3	rno-miR-327	1.68	.0155
hsa-miR-101	2.54	3.01 × 10−3	hsa-miR-518f*	1.63	.0312
hsa-miR-29c	2.44	8.59 × 10−3	hsa-mir-612	1.62	.0353
hsa-miR-345	2.39	8.68 × 10−3	hcmv-miR-UL70-3p	1.58	.0457
hsa-miR-424	2.34	.011	mmu-mir-705	1.53	.0365
hsa-miR-27a	2.21	9.84 × 10−3	ebv-mir-BART6	1.51	.0475
hsa-miR-148a	2.21	.044	hsa-mir-557	1.51	.0404
hsa-miR-29a	2.15	5.57 × 10−3	hsa-miR-363*	1.50	.0440
mmu-mir-804	2.09	.01
hsa-miR-146b	2.07	5.72 × 10−3
hsa-miR-19a	2.07	3.23 × 10−3
hsa-miR-24	2.03	.014
hsa-miR-19b	1.93	4.96 × 10−3
hsa-miR-146a	1.90	.021
hsa-miR-374	1.72	.025
hsa-miR-487b	1.71	.043
hsa-miR-486	1.71	.034
hsa-miR-15a	1.71	.029
hsa-miR-18a	1.69	.025
rno-miR-374	1.62	.03
hsa-miR-30e-5p	1.62	.04
hsa-miR-20a	1.59	.04
hsa-miR-106a	1.53	.043

^*The fold increase in the average expression of each microRNA in CD34⁺ cells from 3 rhesus macaque given plerixafor plus G-CSF divided by the average expression of the same microRNA in CD34⁺ cells from 3 monkeys given plerixafor.

^†The fold increase in the average expression of each microRNA in CD34⁺ cells from in 3 rhesus macaque given plerixafor divided by the average expression of the same microRNA in CD34⁺ cells from monkeys given plerixafor plus G-CSF.

The expression of miR-126*, miR-155, miR-142-3p, miR-129-3p, and miR-99a were also measured by qRT-RCR (Figure 4). This analysis confirmed that the expression of miR-126* and miR-142-3p was greater in plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells than in the other 2 types of CD34⁺ cells. In addition, the analysis confirmed that the expression of miR-99a, miR-129-3p, and miR-155 was greater in G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells than plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells.

Figure 4.

Analysis of differentially expressed mobilized CD34⁺ cell miRs by qRT-PCR. The expression of miR-126*, miR-129-3p, miR-142-3p, miR-99, and miR-155 was analyzed by qRT-PCR in CD34⁺ cells from 3 rhesus macaque mobilized by plerixafor (A), G-CSF (G), or plerixafor plus G-CSF (A+G). The expression of the 5 microRNAs in leukocytes that were not absorbed by anti-CD34 from the 9 mobilized PBSC concentrates (CD34⁻) are shown as a control.

Discussion

Plerixafor has recently been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use with G-CSF to mobilize PBSCs for autologous transplantation. Because plerixafor is now clinically available, it will also likely be used to mobilize stem cells in the 1% to 5% of allogeneic donors who mobilize HSCs poorly in response to G-CSF.^21,22 The number of CD34⁺ cells mobilized by the combination of plerixafor and G-CSF is significantly greater than either agent alone. Because the success of allogeneic transplants is highly dependent on rapid myeloid engraftment and immune reconstitution in the transplant recipient, it is important to determine whether the critical in vivo biological activity or potency of HSCs mobilized by plerixafor and plerixafor plus G-CSF is similar to those mobilized by G-CSF. We used a surrogate assay for potency testing, global gene and microRNA expression analysis, to compare CD34⁺ cells mobilized by plerixafor, G-CSF, and the combination of the 2 agents.

Although many of the same genes were up-regulated in CD34⁺ cells mobilized by either plerixafor or G-CSF, the expression of a large number of genes also differed between CD34⁺ cells mobilized by these 2 agents. G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells were more likely to express neutrophil and mononuclear phagocyte genes than those mobilized by plerixafor. In addition, G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells also expressed high levels of miR-155, which is expressed in maturing dendritic cells.²⁰ In contrast, plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells were more likely to express B-, T-, and mast cell genes. These results suggest that G-CSF mobilizes a greater proportion of HSCs that are committed toward myeloid differentiation, whereas those mobilized by plerixafor are more likely to be committed toward B, T, and mast cells.

Surprisingly, the combination of plerixafor plus G-CSF mobilized a population of CD34⁺ cells that were distinct from CD34⁺ cells mobilized by either agent alone. CD34⁺ cells mobilized by plerixafor plus G-CSF were more likely to express B-cell and T-cell genes than G-CSF–mobilized and plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells. In addition, plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells were also remarkable for their increased expression of miR142-3p and miR-142-5p. miR-142-3p and miR-142-5p are highly expressed in T cells,²³ and miR-142-3p has been found to be increased in childhood B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.²⁴ The results suggest plerixafor plus G-CSF mobilizes a greater proportion of B- and T-cell precursors than either G-CSF or plerixafor alone.

It is not clear if plerixafor, G-CSF, or their combination mobilizes a more primitive HSC. CD34⁺ cells mobilized by plerixafor expressed greater levels of CXCR4 and FLT3 than G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells. Increased expression of CXCR4 in the plerixafor-mobilized population is not surprising and is consistent with the nature of the mobilization protocol, that is, interfering with the binding of CXCR4 and CXCL12. Thus, CD34⁺ cells mobilized with plerixafor alone or in combination with G-CSF should be expressing CXCR4. FLT3 is a member of the receptor tyrosine kinase family and plays an important role in hematopoietic homeostasis.²⁵ It is expressed on both common lymphoid and multipotent progenitors. Higher FLT3 expression was observed in those CD34⁺ cells mobilized with plerixafor alone or with the combination plerixafor plus G-CSF than with G-CSF alone. These increases in expression were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis. We also found that the expression of COX2 was up-regulated in plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells. COX2 is an inducible enzyme that metabolizes arachidonic acid to a number of prostaglandins, including prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂). PGE₂ has been found to be important in hematopoiesis. In zebrafish PGE₂ increases HSC numbers, and in mice it enhances spleen colony-forming units and the frequency of long-term repopulating cells.²⁶ PEG₂ also has been found to enhance the expression of CXCR4 on mouse CD34⁺ cells.²⁷ This suggests that greater quantities of these progenitors are among plerixafor-mobilized and plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells than G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells.

G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells, however, have increased levels of miR-126, miR-126*, and miR-10a* compared with plerixafor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells. miR-126 and miR-10a have previously been found to be expressed by CD34⁺ cells.¹⁹ In addition to being expressed by HSCs, miR-126 is also expressed by megakaryocytes and endothelial cells and is important in angiogenesis.^28,29 miR-126* and miR-10a* are mirror images of miR-126 and miR-10a, respectively, and they are derived from the same pre-miR stem loop, so it is not surprising that both miR-126 and miR-126* were expressed in G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells. These 2 miR, however, target different genes, and they may play a different role in HSC function. We found that the levels of miR-126 and miR-126* were greater in plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells than in the other types of CD34⁺ cells. Another miR whose expression was increased in G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells was miR-99a, which is also expressed by megakaryocytes.²⁹ These results suggest that G-CSF–mobilized CD34⁺ cells may contain a wider range of lineage progenitors. Transplantation studies will be required to determine whether plerixafor, G-CSF, or the combination of these agents mobilizes a more primitive HSC.

The finding that plerixafor, G-CSF, and plerixafor plus G-CSF mobilize different types of CD34⁺ cells is consistent with other studies that found that different agents mobilized different populations of HSCs. In a mouse model, Pitchford and colleagues have found that G-CSF mobilized greater quantities of hematopoietic progenitor cells than plerixafor but plerixafor mobilized greater quantities of endothelial progenitor cells than G-CSF.³⁰ They also found that the combination of G-CSF plus plerixafor mobilized greater quantities of hematopoietic progenitors than either agent alone, but not endothelial progenitors.

The results of this study have several implications for clinical HSC transplantation with mobilized PBSCs. Because plerixafor, G-CSF, and plerixafor plus G-CSF mobilize different subpopulations of CD34⁺ cells, the potency of PBSCs mobilized by these agents may differ. The rate of engraftment and profile of transplant-associated comorbidities may differ between recipients of allogeneic transplants with plerixafor-mobilized PBSCs and those who receive G-CSF–mobilized PBSCs. In addition, the dose of CD34⁺ cells required for successful engraftment may be different for plerixafor- and plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized PBSC concentrates. A preliminary study of allogeneic transplantations involving 20 HLA-compatible siblings has shown that plerixafor-mobilized PBSCs resulted in prompt neutrophil and platelet engraftment although a relatively low median dose of CD34⁺ cells was given, 2.9 × 10⁶ per kilogram of recipient weight.⁴ This same study found that plerixafor-mobilized PBSCs contained greater quantities of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, and CD8⁺ cells than G-CSF–mobilized PBSCs, but the rates of acute and chronic graft versus host disease that were similar to those of historic controls who received G-CSF–mobilized PBSCs at the same institution.⁴ Our data suggest that if similar quantities of CD34⁺ cell are administered, those mobilized with G-CSF may result in faster neutrophil recovery and those mobilized with plerixafor or plerixafor plus G-CSF may have more rapid B-cell and T-cell recovery. Larger controlled studies will be required to assess similarities and differences in rates of engraftment, acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease, and immune reconstitution between plerixafor- and G-CSF–mobilized PBSCs. Clinical correlates will be required to determine the minimum and optimal CD34⁺ cell doses of plerixafor-mobilized and plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized PBSCs required for successful transplantations and to determine whether the rate and sequence of immune recovery differs among the mobilization regimens.

In conclusion, the composition of CD34⁺ cells in PBSC concentrates is dependent on the mobilization regimen, and the composition of CD34⁺ cells mobilized by a combination of agents is not a simple mixture of the cells mobilized by single agents. Unique expression profile signatures appear between populations. G-CSF, plerixafor, and plerixafor plus G-CSF mobilized different populations of CD34⁺ cells, but further in vitro and clinical studies are needed to compare the potency of those cells mobilized by these agents.

Authorship

Contribution: R.E.D. designed the study, analyzed data, and wrote the manuscript; P.J. helped design the study, performed studies, analyzed data, and wrote the manuscript; A.C.B., M.E.M., J.R., and E.W. performed studies and analyzed data; and D.F.S. helped design the study, analyzed data, and wrote the manuscript.

Conflict-of-interest disclosure: A drug used in this study, plerixafor, was provided by Genzyme. The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Correspondence: David Stroncek, MD, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Dr, Bldg 10, Rm 1C711, Bethesda, MD 20892-1184; e-mail: dstroncek@cc.nih.gov.