title: The role of B cells in the pathogenesis of graft-versus-host disease.
abstract: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is an established treatment modality for malignant and nonmalignant hematologic diseases. Acute and chronic graft-versus-host diseases (GVHDs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. T cells have been identified as key players in the graft-versus-host reaction and, therefore, most established drugs used against GVHD target T cells. Despite our knowledge on the pathogenesis of the GVH reaction, success of established therapies for prevention and treatment of GHVD is unsatisfactory. Recently, animal and human studies demonstrated that B cells are involved in the immunopathophysiology of acute and chronic GVHD. Early phase clinical trials of B-cell depletion with rituximab have shown beneficial effects on both acute and chronic GVHD. This review summarizes the current experimental and clinical evidence for the involvement of B cells in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic GVHD and discusses the clinical implications for the management of patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Tumor and Transplantation Immunology, Stem Cell Transplantation Program and Max Eder Junior Research Group, Department I of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shimabukuro-Vornhagen
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hallek
authors.forename: Rainer F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Storb
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: von Bergwelt-Baildon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans