Protective effects of tumor necrosis factor on murine hematopoiesis during cycle-specific cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a pleiotropic cytokine which exerts a wide range of effects when administered in vivo. Using a murine model, we have investigated the effect of pretreatment with 1 microgram (2.6 x 10(4) units) per mouse of recombinant murine TNF-alpha on hematopoietic recovery following administration of cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate, or vinblastine. TNF pretreatment results in enhanced regeneration of circulating neutrophils and hematopoietic progenitors, as measured by in vivo and in vitro assays, in animals given cycle-specific chemotherapeutic agents. The results may suggest that TNF affects cycle kinetics in hematopoietic progenitor cell populations, thus making these cells less prone to the cytocidal effects of the chemotherapeutic agents. As myeloablation is a frequent and often critical side effect following cancer treatment, these findings may have clinical implications.