Advances in prevention and treatment of graft versus host disease

Abstract

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation provides curative therapy for patients with haematologic and immunologic diseases as well as with congenital defects in the haematopoietic system. One obstacle to this therapeutic approach is graft versus host disease (GVHD) that remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. T cell depletion may prevent severe GVHD but this is also associated with an increased risk of graft rejection and relapse rate for haematologic malignancies. Over the past few years, incremental progress has been made in our understanding of molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying GVHD, thus leading to innovative approaches to its prophylaxis and successful haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. These include manipulation of cytokines, chemokines and novel cellular components, as well as downregulation of host-specific T cell responses. This review will summarise recent developments in this area.

• bone marrow
• graft versus host disease (GVHD)
• immunosuppression
• T lymphocyte
• transplantation