The central nervous system is a target of acute graft versus host disease in mice

Blood. 2013 Mar 7;121(10):1906-10. doi: 10.1182/blood-2012-09-456590. Epub 2013 Jan 8.

Abstract

Despite significant advances in prevention and management, graft versus host disease (GVHD) is still a leading complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Although skin, gut, liver, thymus, and lung are GVHD targets, neurological complications (NC) have also been reported following allo-HSCT. We demonstrate that the central nervous system (CNS) can be a direct target of alloreactive T cells following allo-HSCT in mice. We found significant infiltration of the CNS with donor T lymphocytes and cell death of neurons and neuroglia in allo-HSCT recipients with GVHD. We also found that allo-HSCT recipients with GVHD had deficits in spatial learning/memory and demonstrated increased anxious behavior. These findings highlight CNS sensitivity to damage caused by alloreactive donor T cells and represent the first characterization of target cell subsets and NC during GVHD. Therefore, these clinically relevant studies offer a novel and rational explanation for the well-described neurological symptoms observed after allo-HSCT.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Bone Marrow / metabolism
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / etiology*
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / pathology
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Graft vs Host Disease / complications*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Lymphocyte Depletion
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Postoperative Complications*
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology*
  • Transplantation, Homologous