title: Reprint of: B cells in chronic graft-versus-host disease.
abstract: Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) continues to be a common complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Unlike acute graft-versus-host disease, which is mediated almost entirely by donor T cells, the immune pathology of cGVHD is more complex and donor B cells have also been found to play an important role. Recent studies from several laboratories have enhanced our understanding of how donor B cells contribute to this clinical syndrome and this has led to new therapeutic opportunities. Here, Dr Sarantopoulos reviews some of the important mechanisms responsible for persistent B cell activation and loss of B cell tolerance in patients with cGVHD. Dr Blazar describes recent studies in preclinical models that have identified novel B cell-directed agents that may be effective for prevention or treatment of cGVHD. Some B cell-directed therapies have already been tested in patients with cGVHD and Dr Cutler reviews the results of these studies documenting the potential efficacy of this approach. Supported by mechanistic studies in patients and preclinical models, new B cell-directed therapies for cGVHD will now be evaluated in clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell Therapy and Hematologic Malignancies, Department of Medicine, Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarantopoulos
authors.affiliation: Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Bruce R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Blazar
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematologic Malignancies, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Corey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cutler
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematologic Malignancies, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: jerome_ritz@dfci.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Jerome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ritz
keywords: B cell; Chronic graft-versus-host disease; Stem cell transplantation