Therapeutic efficacy of recombinant human leukemia inhibitory factor in a primate model of radiation-induced marrow aplasia

The therapeutic efficacy of recombinant human leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) was examined in a nonhuman primate model of radiation- induced marrow aplasia. Rhesus monkeys received 450 cGy of total-body, 1:1 mixed neutron:gamma radiation. For 23 days thereafter, each monkey received a daily subcutaneous injection of LIF or human serum albumin (HSA) at a dose of 15 micrograms/kg body weight. Complete blood counts and white blood cell differentials were monitored for 60 days postirradiation. Administration of LIF significantly decreased (P < or = .05) the duration of thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 30,000 or 20,000/microL), ie, 9.3 days or 6.3 days, respectively, versus the HSA- treated control monkeys, 12.2 days or 10.2 days, respectively. Treatment with LIF did not alter the duration of neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count < 1,000/microL) as compared with the HSA-treated control monkeys. Cytokine administration did not exacerbate the radiation-induced anemia observed in the HSA-treated control monkeys.