Prevention of graft versus host disease by inactivation of host antigen-presenting cells

WD Shlomchik, MS Couzens, CB Tang, J McNiff… - Science, 1999 - science.org
WD Shlomchik, MS Couzens, CB Tang, J McNiff, ME Robert, J Liu, MJ Shlomchik
Science, 1999science.org
Graft versus host disease, an alloimmune attack on host tissues mounted by donor T cells, is
the most important toxicity of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. The mechanism by
which allogeneic T cells are initially stimulated is unknown. In a murine allogeneic bone
marrow transplantation model it was found that, despite the presence of numerous donor
antigen-presenting cells, only host-derived antigen-presenting cells initiated graft versus
host disease. Thus, strategies for preventing graft versus host disease could be developed …
Graft versus host disease, an alloimmune attack on host tissues mounted by donor T cells, is the most important toxicity of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. The mechanism by which allogeneic T cells are initially stimulated is unknown. In a murine allogeneic bone marrow transplantation model it was found that, despite the presence of numerous donor antigen-presenting cells, only host-derived antigen-presenting cells initiated graft versus host disease. Thus, strategies for preventing graft versus host disease could be developed that are based on inactivating host antigen-presenting cells. Such strategies could expand the safety and application of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in treatment of common genetic and neoplastic diseases.
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