Increased expression of interleukin-18 receptor on T lymphocytes in patients with acute graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Yoshihiro Fujimori; Tomohiro Yoshimoto; Kiyoshi Matsui; Hiroko Tsutsui; Takahiro Okamoto; Shin-Ichiro Kashiwamura; Toshikazu Hada; Haruki Okamura; Eizo Kakishita; Hiroshi Hara; Kenji Nakanishi

doi:10.1089/107999002320271332

Increased expression of interleukin-18 receptor on T lymphocytes in patients with acute graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2002 Jul;22(7):751-4. doi: 10.1089/107999002320271332.

Authors

Yoshihiro Fujimori¹, Tomohiro Yoshimoto, Kiyoshi Matsui, Hiroko Tsutsui, Takahiro Okamoto, Shin-Ichiro Kashiwamura, Toshikazu Hada, Haruki Okamura, Eizo Kakishita, Hiroshi Hara, Kenji Nakanishi

Affiliation

¹ Laboratory of Cell Transplantation, Institute for Advanced Medical Sciences, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan. [email protected]

PMID: 12184912
DOI: 10.1089/107999002320271332

Abstract

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), a potentially fatal side effect of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), is initiated by the action of donor-derived T lymphocytes. We have shown previously that aGVHD is associated with elevated serum levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18). In this study, we analyzed the expression of the IL-18 receptor (IL-18R) on T lymphocytes of BMT patients with aGVHD. Flow cytometric analysis showed that in healthy subjects, a small population of CD4+ T cells expressed IL-18Ralpha, whereas a relatively large population of CD8+ T cells expressed IL-18Ralpha. In aGVHD patients, there were marked increases in the proportion of CD4+ or CD8+ T cells that express IL-18Ralpha. RT-PCR assays showed elevation of IL-18Ralpha and IL-18Rbeta mRNA levels in CD8+ T cells in aGVHD patients. These findings suggest that the expression of IL-18R is upregulated in T cells in patients with aGVHD and that the IL-18/IL-18R system is active during aGVHD.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Acute Disease
Bone Marrow Transplantation / adverse effects*
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
Flow Cytometry
Graft vs Host Disease / etiology
Graft vs Host Disease / immunology*
Graft vs Host Disease / metabolism
Humans
Interleukin-18 / physiology*
Interleukin-18 Receptor alpha Subunit
Leukemia / blood
Leukemia / therapy
RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
Receptors, Interleukin / biosynthesis*
Receptors, Interleukin / genetics
Receptors, Interleukin / physiology
Receptors, Interleukin-18
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism*
Transplantation, Homologous / adverse effects*
Up-Regulation

Substances

IL18R1 protein, human
Interleukin-18
Interleukin-18 Receptor alpha Subunit
RNA, Messenger
Receptors, Interleukin
Receptors, Interleukin-18