title: Foxp3-expressing T regulatory cells and mast cells in acute graft-versus-host disease of the skin.
abstract: Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) limits the effectiveness of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Foxp3 is required for the development and function of CD4(+)/CD25(+) regulatory T cells (T-regs). Foxp3-expressing T-regs are thought to protect against GVHD. Mast cells are thought to be essential in CD4(+)/CD25(+) regulatory T cell-dependent peripheral tolerance. Twenty biopsies of skin with grades I-III aGVHD were stained for Foxp3 and CD117. Inflammation was quantified by a 4 point scale, 0 = no inflammation, 1 = <25% of 20x field, 2 = 25-50%, and 3 = >50%. T-regs and mast cells were quantified by a 4 point scale, 0 = no cells per 20x field, 1 = <5 cells per 20x field, 2 = 5-10 cells, and 3 = >10 cells. T-regs were positively correlated with both inflammation and aGVHD grade. Twelve cases with low T-regs had mild inflammation and lower grades of aGVHD and 6 cases with high T-regs had dense inflammatory infiltrate and higher grades of aGVHD. The number of T-regs, mast cells and density of the inflammatory infiltrate were positively correlated only in cases with mild inflammation. In aGVHD of the skin, T-regs increased with the degree of inflammation and GVHD grade. Mast cells were present at the same density whether aGVHD was of lower or higher grade.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. karennwu@gmail.com
authors.forename: Karen N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Robert V B
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Emmons
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Lisanti
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Farber
authors.forename: Agnieszka K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Witkiewicz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit