[HTML][HTML] Increase in FOXP3+ regulatory T cells in GVHD skin biopsies is associated with lower disease severity and treatment response

C Fondi, C Nozzoli, S Benemei, G Baroni… - Biology of Blood and …, 2009 - Elsevier
C Fondi, C Nozzoli, S Benemei, G Baroni, R Saccardi, S Guidi, P Nicoletti, B Bartolozzi…
Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, 2009Elsevier
In animal models, CD4+/CD25+ T-regulatory cells (Tregs) have been reported to
prevent/delay the onset of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Recently, an insufficient
upregulation of Tregs was found in target organ (intestinal) biopsies from patients with
GVHD. We have analyzed by immunohistochemistry the number of CD3+ T lymphocytes
and FOXP3+ Tregs in skin biopsies from (1) recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell
transplantation (HSCT, n= 26),(2) nontransplanted patients diagnosed with a cutaneous …
In animal models, CD4+/CD25+T-regulatory cells (Tregs) have been reported to prevent/delay the onset of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Recently, an insufficient upregulation of Tregs was found in target organ (intestinal) biopsies from patients with GVHD. We have analyzed by immunohistochemistry the number of CD3+T lymphocytes and FOXP3+ Tregs in skin biopsies from (1) recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT, n=26), (2) nontransplanted patients diagnosed with a cutaneous drug reactions (n=12), and (3) healthy donors (n=10). Infiltrating CD3+ cells were significantly higher in both transplanted patients showing an acute GVHD (aGVHD) and drug reaction when compared to healthy donors and patients without GVHD. Tregs number in aGVHD was higher than in patients without GVHD or healthy subjects and lower than in drug reaction. Interestingly, the number of infiltrating FOXP3+ Tregs was significantly higher in patients responding to GVHD treatment and with a low GVHD grade. Increase in FOXP3+ Tregs in GVHD skin biopsies correlates with a less severe GVHD and is associated to response to GVHD treatment. Larger studies are required to confirm that evaluation of Tregs in minimally invasive skin biopsies assists the diagnosis and prognosis of GvHD patients.
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