title: Rabbit antithymocyte globulin induces rapid expansion of effector memory CD8 T cells without accelerating acute graft versus host disease.
abstract: Rabbit antithymocyte globulin (Thymoglobulin(®)) is commonly used as graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) prophylaxis. Since we found similar total CD8 T cell numbers in patients with and without Thymoglobulin(®) therapy within the first six months after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, we have analyzed the reconstitution of the CD8 T cell compartment in detail. After T cell-depletion, higher and more sustained proliferative capacity of memory CD8 T cells resulted in their rapid expansion, whereas the fraction of naive CD8 T cells decreased. Importantly, this shift towards effector memory CD8 T cells did not accelerate the incidence of GvHD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charité, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wittenbecher
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charité, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rieger
authors.affiliation: Renal and Transplant Research Unit, Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Charité CVK, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Mikalai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dziubianau
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Charité, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herholz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité CVK, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charité, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Igor Wolfgang
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Blau
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charité, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Uharek
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charité, Berlin, Germany ; Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dörken
authors.affiliation: Regenerative Immunology and Aging, Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Charité CVK, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thiel
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charité, Berlin, Germany ; Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité CVK, Berlin, Germany ; Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Il-Kang
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Na
keywords: CD8 T cell; HSCT; antithymocyte globulin; effector memory; naive