Comparative functional analysis of lymphocytes and monocytes from plateletapheresis

Large numbers (2.9 +/- 1.2 X 10(9)) of mononuclear cells can be obtained from incidental samples collected during routine plateletapheresis. We conducted studies comparing characteristics and functions of mononuclear cells derived from venous blood samples and from routine plateletapheresis in the same normal donors. Cell viability was similar in both samples (96 +/- 1% plateletapheresis vs 97 +/- 2% venous blood). Higher concentration of monocytes were observed in the plateletapheresis samples (32.3 +/- 6%) than in the venous blood (14.3 +/- 4%). The procedure of plateletapheresis does not seem to alter lymphocyte or monocyte function. Thus, the functional integrity of these cell populations was demonstrated in terms of natural killer cell activity, blastogenic response to mitogens, local graft-versus-host reactions, monocyte-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against human red cells, monocyte-mediated tumor cell cytotoxicity, latex phagocytosis, and monocyte-dependent lymphocyte blastogenesis. We conclude that monocytes and lymphocytes obtained during routine plateletapheresis are functionally intact.