title: Effect of ATG-F on B-cell reconstitution after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
abstract: Antithymocyte globulin Fresenius (ATG-F) is used before hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to prevent graft rejection and graft-versus-host disease in patients with HLA-matched unrelated donors or mismatched volunteers. However, little is known about the effect of ATG-F on the reconstitution of B-cell subsets. Sixty-seven patients were longitudinally studied at day 15, day 30, and then monthly after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Conditioning regimes included ATG-F, which was infused at days 3, 2 and 1 at a dosage of 10 mg/kg/d. Twenty-seven patients received conditioning regimes without ATG. ATG-treated patients showed a significant delay of CD19+ B cells in the early recovery period. The absolute numbers of circulating CD19+ B cells were significantly lower (P < 0.05) up to 5 months post-transplantation compared to non-ATG patients. The recovery of the memory compartment was delayed in both groups and did not reach normal values 1-year post-transplantation. ATG-treated patient showed significantly lower absolute numbers of circulating CD27+ memory B cells in the first-month after transplantation compared to non-ATG patients. In conclusion, treatment with ATG in the conditioning regime of patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation leads to a significant delay of CD19+ B cells. Thus, ATG seems also to negatively influence B-cell immune reconstitution.
authors: Department of Medicine II, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors: Petra
authors: P
authors: Roll
authors: Department of Medicine II, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors: Khalid
authors: K
authors: Muhammad
authors: Department of Medicine II, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors: Gernot
authors: G
authors: Stuhler
authors: Department of Medicine II, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors: Ulrich
authors: U
authors: Grigoleit
authors: Department of Medicine II, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors: Hermann
authors: H
authors: Einsele
authors: Department of Medicine II, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors: Hans-Peter
authors: HP
authors: Tony
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000188:drug therapy; D006085:Graft Survival; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D017578:Immunoglobulin Class Switching; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D027041:Somatic Hypermutation, Immunoglobulin; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
keywords: ATG; B cells; Stem cell transplantation