Pulmonary function changes in experimental graft-versus-host disease of the lung.
Pulmonary graft-versus-host disease (p-GVHD) is a serious complication after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) of high morbidity and high mortality. We characterized breathing patterns and pulmonary function changes in correlation to lung histopathology and survival by using a well-established murine model of p-GVHD. Lethally irradiated B6D2F1 mice received SCT from either syngeneic B6D2F1 or allogeneic C57BL/6 animals. Within 6 weeks, severe p-GVHD developed in allogeneic recipients characterized by progressive interstitial, alveolar, peribronchial, and periluminal inflammatory cell infiltration, whereas in syngeneic recipients lung histology remained normal. Allogeneic recipients demonstrated decreased minute ventilation (MV), reduced peak inspiratory and expiratory flow rates as early as 1 week after SCT. In addition, allo-SCT resulted in restrictive pulmonary function changes as early as 7 days after transplantation and in progressive airflow obstruction within 6 weeks. Decreased breathing abilities and pulmonary function changes of allogeneic recipients were associated with increased mortality and the severity of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). These findings show that p-GVHD can be characterized by changes in pulmonary function and functional respiratory insufficiency. Furthermore, our data strengthen the understanding, that the lung is a critical target organ of aGVHD.
Miklos
Sandra
S
Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Regensburg Medical School, Regensburg, Germany.
Mueller
Gunnar
G
Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Regensburg Medical School, Regensburg, Germany.
Chang
Yayi
Y
Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Regensburg Medical School, Regensburg, Germany.
Schubert
Thomas E O
TEO
Pathologisches Institut Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.
Holler
Ernst
E
Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Regensburg Medical School, Regensburg, Germany.
Hildebrandt
Gerhard C
GC
Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Regensburg Medical School, Regensburg, Germany. Electronic address: gerhard.hildebrandt@klinik.uni-regensburg.de.
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051379:Mice; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013997:Time Factors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous