Immunotherapy by non-myeloablative stem cell transplantation: study of the immune reconstitution. Arguments for distinct cell subsets in skin and blood.
BACKGROUND
Non-myeloablative peripheral stem cell transplantation has been shown to induce tumour rejection in patients with acute leukaemia. However, the immunological mechanisms involved and the immune reconstitution achieved have not been investigated.


METHODS
We describe the cases of two patients for whom we have studied the lymphocyte reconstitution achieved, using both phenotypic and genetic analyses of the T-cell repertoire, after peripheral stem cell transplantation.


RESULTS
: In both cases we observed immune reconstitution with T-cell repertoire evolution and presence of activated CD8(+) T cells. In one of the patients an activated clone expressing Vbeta8 represents 46% of the CD8(+) cells. Expansion of this clone occurred in the absence of graft vs host disease symptoms. In the second case a skin lesion typical of graft vs host disease appeared after complete remission had been achieved. The T-cell repertoire in a biopsy of the lesion was distinct from that observed in the blood.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study indicates that peripheral donor cells can effectively reconstitute a grafted patient while inducing an immune response against antigens expressed by the leukaemic/myeloma cells. Our data provide arguments for different populations of T cells associated with graft vs leukaemia/lymphoma and GVH effects.
Garban
F
F
Department of Haematology, CHU de Grenoble, 38043 Grenoble cedex 9, France. Frederic.Garban@ujf-grenoble.fr
Gallagher
M
M
Jouvin-Marche
E
E
Jacob
M C
MC
Moine
A
A
Marche
P N
PN
Sotto
J J
JJ
D000208:Acute Disease; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001769:Blood / Q000276:immunology*; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D002330:Carmustine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006087:Graft vs Host Reaction / Q000276:immunology; D020544:Graft vs Leukemia Effect / Q000276:immunology; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000276:immunology; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D003561:Cytarabine; D014750:Vincristine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002330:Carmustine; D011241:Prednisone; D003630:Daunorubicin