Cytokine mediators of chronic graft-versus-host disease

J Clin Invest. 2017 Jun 30;127(7):2452-2463. doi: 10.1172/JCI90593. Epub 2017 Jun 30.

Abstract

Substantial preclinical and clinical research into chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) has come to fruition in the last five years, generating a clear understanding of a complex cytokine-driven cellular network. cGVHD is mediated by naive T cells differentiating within IL-17-secreting T cell and follicular Th cell paradigms to generate IL-21 and IL-17A, which drive pathogenic germinal center (GC) B cell reactions and monocyte-macrophage differentiation, respectively. cGVHD pathogenesis includes thymic damage, impaired antigen presentation, and a failure in IL-2-dependent Treg homeostasis. Pathogenic GC B cell and macrophage reactions culminate in antibody formation and TGF-β secretion, respectively, leading to fibrosis. This new understanding permits the design of rational cytokine and intracellular signaling pathway-targeted therapeutics, reviewed herein.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cytokines / immunology*
  • Germinal Center / immunology
  • Germinal Center / pathology
  • Graft vs Host Disease / immunology*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / pathology
  • Graft vs Host Disease / therapy
  • Humans
  • Macrophages / immunology*
  • Macrophages / pathology
  • Signal Transduction / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / pathology

Substances

  • Cytokines