Association of IL-10 and IL-10Rβ gene polymorphisms with graft-versus-host disease after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation from an HLA-identical sibling donor

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Extensive allelic matching in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes is regarded as a prerequisite for good clinical success of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Also other genetic factors can be assumed to play a role in preventing and controlling the complications associated with allogeneic HSCT, in particular graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and its receptor (IL-10R), key regulators of the immune response, are among these candidates. We studied the association of IL-10 and IL-10Rβ gene polymorphisms with the occurrence of GvHD in 309 HLA-identical sibling donor and recipient pairs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The difference in genotypic IL-10 production between patient and donor in combination with patient IL-10Rβ A/A genotype predisposed strongly to acute GvHD (OR = 7.15, p = 0.000023). On the other hand, a combination of same genotypic IL-10 production with patient IL-10Rβ A/A genotype protected from chronic GvHD (OR = 0.407, p = 0.0097).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest that IL-10 and IL-10Rβ genes have a synergistic effect on the risk of GvHD.</p

Genetic polymorphism related to monocyte-macrophage function is associated with graft-versus-host disease

Despite detailed human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching and modern immunosuppressive therapy, severe graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) remains a major hurdle for successful allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). As the genetic diversity in GvHD complicates the systematic discovery of associated variants across populations, we studied 122 GvHD-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 492 HLA-matched sibling HSCT donor-recipient pairs from Finland and Spain. The association between these candidate SNPs and grade III-IV acute GvHD and extensive chronic GvHD was assessed. The functional effects of the variants were determined using expression and cytokine quantitative trait loci (QTL) database analyses. Clear heterogeneity was observed in the associated markers between the two populations. Interestingly, the majority of markers, such as those annotated to IL1, IL23R, TLR9, TNF, and NOD2 genes, are related to the immunological response by monocytes-macrophages to microbes, a step that precedes GvHD as a result of intestinal lesions. Furthermore, cytokine QTL analysis showed that the GvHD-associated markers regulate IL1 beta, IFN gamma, and IL6 responses. These results support a crucial role for the anti-microbial response in GvHD risk. Furthermore, despite apparent heterogeneity in the genetic markers associated with GvHD, it was possible to identify a biological pathway shared by most markers in both populations.Peer reviewe

Alternative donors for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in poor-risk AML in CR1

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) remains the treatment of choice to consolidate remission in patients with poor-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML). With increasing alternative donors available, the preferred donor or stem cell source is debated. We set out to study outcome in recipients of alloHSCT with poor-risk AML in first complete remission (CR1) by donor type. A total of 6545 adult patients with poor-risk AML in CR1 receiving an alloHSCT using matched related donor (MRD, n = 3511) or alternative donors, including 10/10 (n = 1959) or 9/10 matched unrelated donors (MUDs, n = 549), umbilical cord blood (UCB) grafts (n = 333), or haplo-identical (haplo) donors (n = 193) were compared. Overall survival (OS) at 2 years following MRD alloHSCT was an estimated 59 +/- 1%, which did not differ from 10/10 MUD (57 +/- 1%) and haplo alloHSCT (57 +/- 4%). OS, however, was significantly lower for 9/10 MUD alloHSCT (49 +/- 2%) and UCB grafts (44 +/- 3%), respectively (P < .001). Nonrelapse mortality (NRM) depended on donor type and was estimated at 26 +/- 3% and 29 +/- 3% after haplo alloHSCT and UCB grafts at 2 years vs 15 +/- 1% following MRD alloHSCT. Multivariable analysis confirmed the impact of donor type with OS following MRD, 10/10 MUD, and haplo alloHSCT not being statistically significantly different. NRM was significantly higher for alternative donors as compared with MRD alloHSCT. Collectively, these results suggest that alloHSCT with MRDs and 10/10 MUDs may still be preferred in patients with poor-risk AML in CR1. If an MRD or 10/10 MUD is not available, then the repertoire of alternative donors includes 9/10 MUD, UCB grafts, and haplo-identical donors. The latter type of donor is increasingly applied and now approximates results with matched donors.Peer reviewe

Coordinated responses of natural anticoagulants to allogeneic stem cell transplantation and acute GVHD - A longitudinal study

Background Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) enhances coagulation via endothelial perturbation and inflammation. Role of natural anticoagulants in interactions between coagulation and inflammation as well as in acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) are not well known. The purpose of this study was to define changes in natural anticoagulants over time in association with GVHD. Patients and methods This prospective study included 30 patients who received grafts from siblings (n = 19) or unrelated donors (n = 11). Eight patients developed GVHD. Standard clinical assays were applied to measure natural anticoagulants, represented by protein C (PC), antithrombin (AT), protein S (PS), complex of activated PC with its inhibitor (APC-PCI) and by markers of endothelial activation: Factor VIII coagulant activity (FVIII: C) and soluble thrombomodulin (s-TM) at 6-8 time points over three months. Results Overall, PC, AT and FVIII: C increased in parallel after engraftment. Significant correlations between PC and FVIII: C (r = 0.64-0.82, p Conclusion The coordinated activation of natural anticoagulants in our longitudinal study indicates the sustained ability of adaptation to endothelial and inflammatory activation during allogenic SCT treatment. The suboptimal control of coagulation by natural anticoagulants at early stage of SCT may contribute to onset of GVHD.Peer reviewe

Extracorporeal photopheresis in the treatment of acute graft-versus-host disease : a single-center experience

BACKGROUND: Steroid-refractory acute graft-versushost disease (aGVHD) is a serious complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The long-term outcome of the patients is poor. Various immunosuppressive agents have been proposed as the second-line therapy but none of them has turned out more effective than the others. Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is a treatment option that does not predispose the patients to severe side effects of the immunosuppressive drugs. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed the treatment results of ECP in 52 patients with steroidrefractory or steroid-dependent aGVHD. Eighty-one percent of the patients suffered from a severe, Grade III or IV, aGVHD. ECP was started alone as the second-line treatment in 23 patients and in combination with an immunosuppressive drug in 18 patients. Eleven patients received ECP as the third-line or later treatment. RESULTS: A total of 62% of the patients responded, with 48% achieving complete response. In the patients with complete or partial response, the probabilities of survival at 4 years were 54 and 17%, respectively. The outcome of nonresponders was poor. The 1-year overall survivals of the patients with ECP as the second-line treatment either alone or in combination with an immunosuppressive drug or as the third-line treatment were 51, 28, and 18%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, starting ECP no later than 10 days after the start of the first-line treatment correlated with a good response and a consequent survival benefit. CONCLUSION: Extracorporeal photopheresis is an effective and well-tolerated treatment that should be considered as a second-line treatment for aGVHD.Peer reviewe

Meta-Analysis of Genome-Wide Association and Gene Expression Studies Implicates Donor T Cell Function and Cytokine Pathways in Acute GvHD

Graft-vs.-host disease (GvHD) is a major complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation that causes mortality and severe morbidity. Genetic disparities in human leukocyte antigens between the recipient and donor are known contributors to the risk of the disease. However, the overall impact of genetic component is complex, and consistent findings across different populations and studies remain sparse. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the genes responsible for GvHD, we combined genome-wide association studies (GWAS) from two distinct populations with previously published gene expression studies on GvHD in a single gene-level meta-analysis. We hypothesized that genes driving GvHD should be associated in both data modalities and therefore could be detected more readily through their combined effects in the integrated analysis rather than in separate analyses. The meta-analysis yielded a total of 51 acute GvHD-associated genes (false detection rate [FDR]Peer reviewe

Donor haplotype B of NK KIR receptor reduces the relapse risk in HLA-icentical sibling hematopoetic stem cell transplantation of AML patients

Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0)Successful allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) depends not only on good HLA match but also on T-cell mediated graft-versus-leukemia (GyL) effect. Natural killer (NK) cells are able to kill malignant cells by receiving activation signal from the killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) recognizing HLA molecules on a cancer cell. It has been recently reported that the risk of relapse in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is reduced in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients whose donors have several activating KIR genes or KIR B-motifs in unrelated donor setting, obviously due to enhanced GyL effect by NK cells. We studied the effect on relapse rate of donor KIR haplotypes in the HLA-identical adult sibling HSCT, done in a single center, in Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. Altogether, 134 patients with 6 different diagnoses were identified. Their donors were KIR genotyped using the Luminex and the SSP techniques. The clinical endpoint, that is, occurrence of relapse, was compared with the presence or absence of single KIR genes. Also, time from transplantation to relapse was analyzed. The patients with AML whose donors have KIR2DL2 or KIR2DS2 had statistically significantly longer relapse-free survival (P = 0.015). Our data support previous reports that donors with KIR B-haplotype defining genes have a lower occurrence of relapse in HSCT of AML patients. Determination of donor KIR haplotypes could be a useful addition for a risk assessment of HSCT especially in AML patients.Peer reviewe

AlloHSCT for inv(3)(q21;q26)/t(3;3)(q21;q26) AML : a report from the acute leukemia working party of the European society for blood and marrow transplantation

Acute myeloid leukemia with inv(3)(q21;q26.2)/t(3;3)(q21;q26.2) (3q26 AML) is a rare disease with poor prognosis and median survival ofPeer reviewe

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation using HLA-matched donors for acute myeloid leukemia with deletion 5q or monosomy 5 : a study from the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the EBMT

Deletion 5q or monosomy 5 (-5/5q-) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a common high-risk feature that is referred to allogeneic stem cell transplantation. However, -5/5q- is frequently associated with other high-risk cytogenetic aberrations such as complex karyotype, monosomal karyotype, monosomy 7 (-7), or 17p abnormalities (abn (17p)), the significance of which is unknown. In order to address this question, we studied adult patients with AML harboring -5/5q- having their first allogeneic transplantation between 2000 and 2015. Five hundred and one patients with -5/5q- have been analyzed. Three hundred and thirty-eight patients (67%) were in first remission and 142 (28%) had an active disease at time of allogeneic transplantation. The 2-year probabilities of overall survival and leukemia-free survival were 27% and 20%, respectively. The 2-year probability of treatment-related mortality was 20%. We identified four different cytogenetic groups according to additional abnormalities with prognostic impact: -5/5q- without complex karyotype, monosomal karyotype or abn(17p), -5/5q- within a complex karyotype, -5/5q- within a monosomal karyotype and the combination of -5/5q- with abn(17p). In multivariate analysis, factors associated with worse overall survival and leukemia-free survival across the four groups were active disease, age, monosomal karyotype, and abn(17p). The presence of -5/5q- without monosomal karyotype or abn(17p) was associated with a significantly better survival rate while -5/5q- in conjunction with monosomal karyotype or abn(17p) translated into a worse outcome. The patients harboring the combination of -5/5q- with abn(17p) showed very limited benefit from allogeneic transplantation.Peer reviewe