β2 integrins separate graft-versus-host disease and graft-versus-leukemia effects

Y Liang, C Liu, JY Djeu, B Zhong… - Blood, The Journal …, 2008 - ashpublications.org
Y Liang, C Liu, JY Djeu, B Zhong, T Peters, K Scharffetter-Kochanek, C Anasetti, XZ Yu
Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology, 2008ashpublications.org
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in
allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Migration of donor-derived T cells into
GVHD target organs plays an essential role in the development of GVHD. β2 integrins are
critically important for leukocyte extravasation through vascular endothelia and for T-cell
activation. We asked whether CD18-deficient T cells would induce less GVHD while sparing
the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect. In murine allogeneic bone marrow transplantation …
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Migration of donor-derived T cells into GVHD target organs plays an essential role in the development of GVHD. β2 integrins are critically important for leukocyte extravasation through vascular endothelia and for T-cell activation. We asked whether CD18-deficient T cells would induce less GVHD while sparing the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect. In murine allogeneic bone marrow transplantation models, we found that recipients of CD18−/− donor T cells had significantly less GVHD morbidity and mortality compared with recipients of wild-type (WT) donor T cells. Analysis of alloreactivity showed that CD18−/− and WT T cells had comparable activation, expansion, and cytokine production in vivo. Reduced GVHD was associated with a significant decrease in donor T-cell infiltration of recipient intestine and with an overall decrease in pathologic scores in intestine and liver. Finally, we found that the in vivo GVL effect of CD18−/− donor T cells was largely preserved, because mortality of the recipients who received transplants of CD18−/− T cells plus tumor cells was greatly delayed or prevented. Our data suggest that strategies to target β2 integrin have clinical potential to alleviate or prevent GVHD while sparing GVL activity.
ashpublications.org