title: Prophylaxis of acute graft-versus-host disease by CCR5 blockade combined with cyclosporine A in a murine model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  One characteristic feature of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is lymphocytes' trafficking and recruitment to target tissues, and CCR5 plays a key role in the process. Thus, blockade of lymphocytes' chemotaxis may attenuate GVHD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We tested the effects of CCR5 blockade using an established murine model. The mean survival time, body weight change, and clinical GVHD scores were assessed. Concentrations of cytokines and chemokines, the CCR5, CXCR3, and CCR7 expressions on T lymphocytes, and histological changes of visceral organs were also evaluated. Additionally, we assessed the immunophenotype of infiltration cells in liver and intestine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mice undergoing total body irradiation and allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) developed typical GVHD. MVC increased CCR5 expression whereas CCR7 and CXCR3 expression were unaffected. MVC also increased plasma levels of the ligands of CCR5. A combination of MVC with CsA significantly alleviated the degree of visceral injuries and prolonged survival time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MVC has a synergistic effect with CsA. It can attenuate the severity of GVHD and increase survival rate of mice in our murine model. This may offer a novel therapeutic perspective for clinical GVHD after allo-HSCT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Peking University First Hospital, 8 Xishiku Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100034, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Han-yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Yong-jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D065100:CCR5 Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003510:Cyclohexanes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D000077592:Maraviroc; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000276:immunology*; D054400:Receptors, CCR7 / Q000276:immunology; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3 / Q000276:immunology; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D065100:CCR5 Receptor Antagonists; C000592874:CCR5 protein, mouse; C515371:Ccr7 protein, mouse; C515188:Cxcr3 protein, mouse; D003510:Cyclohexanes; D016207:Cytokines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D019713:Receptors, CCR5; D054400:Receptors, CCR7; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3; D014230:Triazoles; D016572:Cyclosporine; D000077592:Maraviroc