title: Origin of Langerhans cells in normal skin and chronic GVHD after hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation.
abstract: Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is a common complication following allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (SCT). Past studies have implicated the persistence of host antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in GVHD. Our objective was to determine the frequency of host Langerhans cells (LCs) in normal skin post-SCT and ask if their persistence could predict cGVHD. Biopsies of normal skin from 124 sex-mismatched T-cell-replete allogenic SCT recipients were taken 100 days post-transplant. Patients with acute GVHD and those with <9 months of follow-up were excluded and prospective follow-up information was collected from remaining 22 patients. CD1a staining and X and Y chromosome in-situ hybridization were performed to label LCs and to identify their host or donor origin. At 3 months, 59 ± 5% of LCs were host derived. The density of LCs and the proportion of host-derived LCs were similar between patients that did or did not develop cGVHD. Most LCs in the skin remained of host origin 3 months after SCT regardless of cGVHD status. This finding is in line with the redundant role of LCs in acute GVHD initiation uncovered in recent experimental models.
authors: Experimental Dermatology Laboratory, UQ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors: Rafiq
authors: R
authors: Andani
authors: Ivan
authors: I
authors: Robertson
authors: Kelli P A
authors: KP
authors: Macdonald
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Durrant
authors: Geoffrey R
authors: GR
authors: Hill
authors: Kiarash
authors: K
authors: Khosrotehrani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: GVHD; Langerhans cells; antigen presenting cells; chimerism; hematopoietic stem cell transplantation