Higher levels of free plasma mitochondrial DNA are associated with the onset of chronic GvHD

Bone Marrow Transplant. 2018 Oct;53(10):1263-1269. doi: 10.1038/s41409-018-0156-y. Epub 2018 Mar 21.

Abstract

Toll-like receptor-9 (TLR9) responsive B cells have previously been associated with the onset of extensive chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD). We hypothesized that the onset of cGvHD associated with a higher level of plasma-free mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), a putative TLR9 agonist. Plasma cell-free mtDNA levels were measured in 39 adult patients post-HSCT with and without cGvHD. mtDNA was isolated from plasma and quantified by Q-PCR amplification. We correlated B cell responsiveness to CpG-DNA, a prototypical TLR9 agonist, and previously identified cGVHD biomarkers with mtDNA levels. Free plasma mtDNA were elevated in patients post-HSCT without cGvHD compared to normal non-HSCT adults. There was a significantly higher level of free plasma mtDNA associated with the onset of cGvHD (3080 ± 1586 versus 1834 ± 1435 copies/μL; p = 0.02) compared to 6 months post-HSCT controls. Free mtDNA levels post-HSCT correlated with B cell responsiveness to CpG-DNA and known cGvHD biomarkers: CXCL10 (p = 0.003), ICAM-1 (p = 0.007), CXCL9 (p = 0.03), sCD25 (p = 0.05) and sBAFF (p = 0.05), and percentage of CD21low B cells. Plasma levels of free mtDNA are increased in cGvHD and may represent an endogenous inflammatory stimulus for TLR9 expressing B cells.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Allografts
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Cell-Free Nucleic Acids / blood*
  • Chronic Disease
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / blood*
  • Female
  • Graft vs Host Disease / blood*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / pathology
  • Graft vs Host Disease / therapy
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / blood
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / therapy
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9 / blood

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Cell-Free Nucleic Acids
  • DNA, Mitochondrial
  • TLR9 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9