Graft versus self (GvS) against T-cell autoantigens is a mechanism of graft-host interaction.
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) represents the major nonrelapse complication of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Although rare, the CNS and the eye can be affected. In this study, manifestation in the retina as part of the CNS and T-cell epitopes recognized by the allogeneic T cells were evaluated. In 2 of 6 patients with posttransplantation retina diseases and 6 of 22 patients without ocular symptoms, antigen-specific T-cell responses against retina-specific epitopes were observed. No genetic differences between donor and recipient could be identified indicating T-cell activation against self-antigens (graft versus self). Transplantation of a preexisting immunity and cross-reactivity with ubiquitous epitopes was excluded in family donors and healthy individuals. In summary, an immunological reaction against retina cells represents a mechanism of graft-versus-host interaction following hematopoietic cell transplantation.
Abteilung II fuer Onkologie, Haematologie, Immunologie, Rheumatologie, und Pulmologie, Medizinische Universitaetsklinik, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.|Abteilung Immunologie, Interfakultaeres Institut fuer Zellbiologie, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Nora
N
Mirza
Universitaetsaugenklinik, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Manfred
M
Zierhut
Klinik fuer diagnostische und interventionelle Neuroradiologie, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Andreas
A
Korn
Institut fuer Neuropathologie, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Antje
A
Bornemann
Abteilung II fuer Onkologie, Haematologie, Immunologie, Rheumatologie, und Pulmologie, Medizinische Universitaetsklinik, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Wichard
W
Vogel
Zentrum fuer klinische Transfusionsmedizin, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Barbara
B
Schmid-Horch
Abteilung II fuer Onkologie, Haematologie, Immunologie, Rheumatologie, und Pulmologie, Medizinische Universitaetsklinik, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Wolfgang A
WA
Bethge
Abteilung Immunologie, Interfakultaeres Institut fuer Zellbiologie, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Stefan
S
Stevanović
Abteilung II fuer Onkologie, Haematologie, Immunologie, Rheumatologie, und Pulmologie, Medizinische Universitaetsklinik, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.|Department for Internal Medicine II, Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium and German Cancer Research Center, Partner site Tuebingen, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Helmut R
HR
Salih
Abteilung II fuer Onkologie, Haematologie, Immunologie, Rheumatologie, und Pulmologie, Medizinische Universitaetsklinik, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Lothar
L
Kanz
Abteilung Immunologie, Interfakultaeres Institut fuer Zellbiologie, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Hans-Georg
HG
Rammensee
Abteilung II fuer Onkologie, Haematologie, Immunologie, Rheumatologie, und Pulmologie, Medizinische Universitaetsklinik, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany; sebastian.haen@med.uni-tuebingen.de.|Abteilung Immunologie, Interfakultaeres Institut fuer Zellbiologie, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Sebastian P
SP
Haen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000009:adverse effects
D001324:Autoantigens; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
T-cell epitope; allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation; autoimmunity; graft-versus-host disease; retina