Inflammatory cytokines and dendritic cells in acute graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic stem cell transplantation

• Published in: Cytokine & growth factor reviews Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 53 - 63
• Main Authors: Mohty, Mohamad, Gaugler, Béatrice
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-02-2008
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Advanced Basic Science; Animals; Cytokines; DCs; Dendritic Cells - immunology; Graft vs Host Disease - immunology; Graft vs Host Disease - physiopathology; Graft vs Host Disease - prevention & control; GVHD; Humans; Interleukin-1 - physiology; Stem Cell Transplantation - adverse effects; T-Lymphocytes - physiology; Transplantation, Homologous - adverse effects; Transplantation, Homologous - immunology; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - physiology; Cytokines; DCs; GVHD
• ISSN: 1359-6101
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2007.10.010

Abstract The wider use of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is still limited by the immunologic recognition and destruction of host tissues, termed graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The role of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL-1, and their impact on immune effectors (mainly CD4+ and CD8+ T) cells has been extensively studied in the context of GVHD occurring after standard myeloablative allo-SCT. However, recent data suggested that GVHD pathophysiology is likely to involve more complex interactions where antigen-presenting cells, especially dendritic cells (DCs), may play a major role at time of initiation of acute GVHD. In addition, the wider use of reduced intensity and less toxic conditioning (RIC) regimens prior to allo-SCT would allow better visualization of the fine functions of immune effectors, thereby offering a window of opportunities to better decipher the intimate pathophysiological mechanisms underlying GVHD. The aim of this work is to review the available research evidence on the role of DCs as in vivo regulators of alloimmune reactivity, and their interactions with other immune effectors.