Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0018133 (graft-versus-host disease)
 18,032 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Results from experimental models, in vitro studies, and clinical data indicate that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) stimulation alters T-cell function and induces Th2 immune responses. The immune modulatory effect of G-CSF on T cells results in an unexpected low incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease in peripheral stem cell transplantation. However, the underlying mechanism for the reduced reactivity and/or alloreactivity of T cells upon G-CSF treatment is still unknown. In contrast to the general belief that G-CSF acts exclusively on T cells via monocytes and dendritic cells, our results clearly show the expression of the G-CSF receptor in class I- and II- restricted T cells at the single-cell level both in vivo and in vitro. Kinetic studies demonstrate the induction and functional activity of the G-CSF receptor in T cells upon G-CSF exposure. Expression profiling of T cells from G-CSF-treated stem cell donors allowed identification of several immune modulatory genes, which are regulated upon G-CSF administration in vivo (eg, LFA1-alpha, ISGF3-gamma) and that are likely responsible for the reduced reactivity and/or alloreactivity. Most importantly, the induction of GATA-3, the master transcription factor for a Th2 immune response, could be demonstrated in T cells upon G-CSF treatment in vivo accompanied by an increase of spontaneous interleukin-4 secretion. Hence, G-CSF is a strong immune regulator of T cells and a promising therapeutic tool in acute graft-versus-host disease as well as in conditions associated with Th1/Th2 imbalance, such as bone marrow failure syndromes and autoimmune diseases.
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PMID:G-CSF as immune regulator in T cells expressing the G-CSF receptor: implications for transplantation and autoimmune diseases. 1267 91

We investigated whether atorvastatin (AT) was capable of protecting animals from acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) across major histocompatibility complex (MHC) mismatch barriers. AT treatment of the donor induced a Th-2 cytokine profile in the adoptively transferred T cells and reduced their in vivo expansion, which translated into significantly reduced aGVHD lethality. Host treatment down-regulated costimulatory molecules and MHC class II expression on recipient antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and enhanced the protective statin effect, without impacting graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) activity. The AT effect was partially reversed in STAT6(-/-) donors and abrogated by L-mevalonate, indicating the relevance of STAT6 signaling and the L-mevalonate pathway for AT-mediated aGVHD protection. AT reduced prenylation levels of GTPases, abolished T-bet expression, and increased c-MAF and GATA-3 protein in vivo. Thus, AT has significant protective impact on aGVHD lethality by Th-2 polarization and inhibition of an uncontrolled Th-1 response while maintaining GVL activity, which is of great clinical relevance given the modest toxicity profile of AT.
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PMID:Preemptive HMG-CoA reductase inhibition provides graft-versus-host disease protection by Th-2 polarization while sparing graft-versus-leukemia activity. 1868 83