Control of organ transplant-associated graft-versus-host disease by activated host lymphocyte infusions.
BACKGROUND
Prolonged persistence of donor-derived T cells after organ transplantation has been proposed to improve long-term allograft survival. However, surviving transplant-derived T cells are also able to mediate devastating graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Currently, GvHD after organ transplantation is usually refractory to conventional therapy and the disease outcome fatal.


METHODS
Graft-reactive host T cells were generated ex vivo from a patient suffering from a severe and refractory liver-transplant-associated GvHD. To control GvHD, activated alloreactive host T cells were repetitively retransferred into the patient (activated host lymphocyte infusion [aHLI]).


RESULTS
Adoptive transfer of ex vivo activated alloreactive host T cells (aHLI) led to the control and complete resolution of severe GvHD without inducing allograft rejection.


CONCLUSIONS
aHLI opens a novel therapeutic window to control solid-organ transplant-associated GvHD while preserving allograft integrity.
Kuball
Jürgen
J
Department of Hematology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany. J.Kuball@gmx.de
Theobald
Matthias
M
Ferreira
Edite Antunes
EA
Hess
Georg
G
Burg
Jürgen
J
Maccagno
Giancarlo
G
Barreiros
Ana P
AP
Lüth
Stefan
S
Schimanski
Carl C
CC
Schuchmann
Markus
M
Schwarting
Andreas
A
Neurath
Markus
M
Otto
Gerd
G
Galle
Peter R
PR
Lohse
Ansgar W
AW
D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000368:Aged; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous; D004820:Epidermolysis Bullosa / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D017710:Lymphocyte Transfusion; D012720:Severity of Illness Index