High-titre interferon-alpha antibodies in a patient with chronic graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplant. 1994 Sep;14(3):483-6.

Abstract

In a patient undergoing allogeneic BMT for chronic phase CML, de novo chronic GVHD developed within 80 days after transplantation. Eighteen months post-BMT, high serum levels of neutralizing interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) antibodies were detected, which persisted despite continuous immunosuppressive treatment. The antibodies were of oligoclonal or polyclonal origin, predominantly of the IgG1 type, and reacted broadly with various human IFN-alpha types, including the patients endogenous IFN-alpha, but failed to recognize natural IFN-beta and recombinant IFN-gamma. Pathogenesis and clinical impact of the IFN-alpha antibodies are unknown. Antibodies of cytokines are a novel class of autoantibodies that may develop after allogeneic BMT and interfere with cytokine homeostasis and immune regulation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Graft vs Host Disease / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / immunology*
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / therapy
  • Male

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Interferon-alpha