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Logan BR, Fu D, Howard A, Fei M, Kou J, Little MR, Adom D, Mohamed FA, Blazar BR, Gafken PR, Paczesny S. Validated graft-specific biomarkers identify patients at risk for chronic graft-versus-host disease and death. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e168575. [PMID: 37526081 PMCID: PMC10378149 DOI: 10.1172/jci168575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDChronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is a serious complication of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). More accurate information regarding the risk of developing cGVHD is required. Bone marrow (BM) grafts contribute to lower cGVHD, which creates a dispute over whether risk biomarker scores should be used for peripheral blood (PB) and BM.METHODSDay 90 plasma proteomics from PB and BM recipients developing cGVHD revealed 5 risk markers that were added to 8 previous cGVHD markers to screen 982 HCT samples of 2 multicenter Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network (BMTCTN) cohorts. Each marker was tested for its association with cause-specific hazard ratios (HRs) of cGVHD using Cox-proportional-hazards models. We paired these clinical studies with biomarker measurements in a mouse model of cGVHD.RESULTSSpearman correlations between DKK3 and MMP3 were significant in both cohorts. In BMTCTN 0201 multivariate analyses, PB recipients with 1-log increase in CXCL9 and DKK3 were 1.3 times (95% CI: 1.1-1.4, P = 0.001) and 1.9 times (95%CI: 1.1-3.2, P = 0.019) and BM recipients with 1-log increase in CXCL10 and MMP3 were 1.3 times (95%CI: 1.0-1.6, P = 0.018 and P = 0.023) more likely to develop cGVHD. In BMTCTN 1202, PB patients with high CXCL9 and MMP3 were 1.1 times (95%CI: 1.0-1.2, P = 0.037) and 1.2 times (95%CI: 1.0-1.3, P = 0.009) more likely to develop cGVHD. PB patients with high biomarkers had increased likelihood to develop cGVHD in both cohorts (22%-32% versus 8%-12%, P = 0.002 and P < 0.001, respectively). Mice showed elevated circulating biomarkers before the signs of cGVHD.CONCLUSIONBiomarker levels at 3 months after HCT identify patients at risk for cGVHD occurrence.FUNDINGNIH grants R01CA168814, R21HL139934, P01CA158505, T32AI007313, and R01CA264921.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent R. Logan
- Division of Biostatistics and Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Denggang Fu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Alan Howard
- Be The Match and Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Mingwei Fei
- Be The Match and Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jianqun Kou
- Division of Biostatistics and Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Morgan R. Little
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Djamilatou Adom
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Fathima A. Mohamed
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood & Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Bruce R. Blazar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood & Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Philip R. Gafken
- Proteomics & Metabolomics shared resource, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Sophie Paczesny
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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2
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Hess NJ, Turicek DP, Riendeau J, McIlwain SJ, Contreras Guzman E, Nadiminti K, Hudson A, Callander NS, Skala MC, Gumperz JE, Hematti P, Capitini CM. Inflammatory CD4/CD8 double-positive human T cells arise from reactive CD8 T cells and are sufficient to mediate GVHD pathology. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf0567. [PMID: 36961891 PMCID: PMC10038349 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf0567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
An important paradigm in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantations (allo-HCTs) is the prevention of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) while preserving the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) activity of donor T cells. From an observational clinical study of adult allo-HCT recipients, we identified a CD4+/CD8+ double-positive T cell (DPT) population, not present in starting grafts, whose presence was predictive of ≥ grade 2 GVHD. Using an established xenogeneic transplant model, we reveal that the DPT population develops from antigen-stimulated CD8 T cells, which become transcriptionally, metabolically, and phenotypically distinct from single-positive CD4 and CD8 T cells. Isolated DPTs were sufficient to mediate xeno-GVHD pathology when retransplanted into naïve mice but provided no survival benefit when mice were challenged with a human B-ALL cell line. Overall, this study reveals human DPTs as a T cell population directly involved with GVHD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J. Hess
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - David P. Turicek
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jeremiah Riendeau
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Sean J. McIlwain
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Emmanuel Contreras Guzman
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kalyan Nadiminti
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Amy Hudson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Natalie S. Callander
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Melissa C. Skala
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jenny E. Gumperz
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Peiman Hematti
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Christian M. Capitini
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
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3
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Milosevic E, Babic A, Iovino L, Markovic M, Grce M, Greinix H. Use of the NIH consensus criteria in cellular and soluble biomarker research in chronic graft-versus-host disease: A systematic review. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1033263. [DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1033263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
ObjectivesChronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD) is the most frequent cause of late non-relapse mortality after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHCT). Nevertheless, established biomarkers of cGvHD are still missing. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Development Project on Criteria for Clinical Trials in cGvHD provided recommendations for biomarker research. We evaluated to which extent studies on cellular and soluble biomarkers in cGvHD published in the last 10 years complied with these recommendations. Also, we highlight the most promising biomarker candidates, verified in independent cohorts and/or repeatedly identified by separate studies.MethodsWe searched Medline and EMBASE for “cGvHD”, “biomarkers”, “soluble” and “cells” as MeSH terms or emtree subject headings, and their variations on July 28th, 2021, limited to human subjects, English language and last ten years. Reviews, case reports, conference abstracts and single nucleotide polymorphism studies were excluded. Criteria based on the set of recommendations from the NIH group for biomarker research in cGvHD were used for scoring and ranking the references.ResultsA total of 91 references encompassing 15,089 participants were included, 54 prospective, 17 retrospective, 18 cross-sectional, and 2 studies included both prospective and retrospective cohorts. Thirty-five papers included time-matched controls without cGvHD and 20 studies did not have any control subjects. Only 9 studies were randomized, and 8 were multicentric. Test and verification cohorts were included in 11 studies. Predominantly, diagnostic biomarkers were explored (n=54). Assigned scores ranged from 5-34. None of the studies fulfilled all 24 criteria (48 points). Nevertheless, the scores improved during the last years. Three cell subsets (CXCR3+CD56bright NK cells, CD19+CD21low and BAFF/CD19+ B cells) and several soluble factors (BAFF, IL-15, CD163, DKK3, CXCL10 and the panel of ST2, CXCL9, MMP3 and OPN) had the highest potential as diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers in cGvHD.ConclusionDespite several limitations of this review (limited applicability for paediatric population, definition of verification, missing data on comorbidities), we identified promising candidate biomarkers for further evaluation in multicentre collaborative studies. This review confirms the importance of the NIH consensus group criteria for improving the quality and reproducibility of cGvHD biomarker research.
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4
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Bidgoli A, DePriest BP, Saatloo MV, Jiang H, Fu D, Paczesny S. Current Definitions and Clinical Implications of Biomarkers in Graft-versus-Host Disease. Transplant Cell Ther 2022; 28:657-666. [PMID: 35830932 PMCID: PMC9547856 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtct.2022.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a potentially curative treatment for many hematologic and nonhematologic disorders. Graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) in its acute or chronic form remains the most important nonrelapse post-HCT complication. Biomarkers offer objective, unbiased information on systemic disorders, and significant attention has focused on identifying biomarkers for GVHD. Ideally, a GVHD biomarker is actionable, with the results of biomarker testing used to guide clinical management of disease and clinical trial design. Although many GVHD biomarkers have been identified, none have been properly qualified for clinical use. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have provided biomarker subtype definitions; however, confusion remains about the proper definition and application of these subtypes in the HCT field. The 2014 NIH consensus development project provided a framework for the development of biomarkers for clinical practice. This review aims to clarify the biomarker subtype definitions and reemphasize the developmental framework. Armed with this knowledge, clinicians can properly translate GVHD biomarkers for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Bidgoli
- Departments of (1)Microbiology and Immunology and (2)Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Brittany Paige DePriest
- Departments of (1)Microbiology and Immunology and (2)Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Maedeh Vakili Saatloo
- Departments of (1)Microbiology and Immunology and (2)Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Hua Jiang
- Departments of (1)Microbiology and Immunology and (2)Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Denggang Fu
- Departments of (1)Microbiology and Immunology and (2)Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Sophie Paczesny
- Departments of (1)Microbiology and Immunology and (2)Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
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5
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Keshavarz Shahbaz S, Mansourabadi AH, Jafari D. Genetically engineered mesenchymal stromal cells as a new trend for treatment of severe acute graft-versus-host disease. Clin Exp Immunol 2022; 208:12-24. [PMID: 35274673 PMCID: PMC9113247 DOI: 10.1093/cei/uxac016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a population of non-hematopoietic and self-renewing cells characterized by the potential to differentiate into different cell subtypes. MSCs have interesting features which have attracted a lot of attention in various clinical investigations. Some basic features of MSCs are including the weak immunogenicity (absence of MHC-II and costimulatory ligands accompanied by the low expression of MHC-I) and the potential of plasticity and multi-organ homing via expressing related surface molecules. MSCs by immunomodulatory effects could also ameliorate several immune-pathological conditions like graft-versus-host diseases (GVHD). The efficacy and potency of MSCs are the main objections of MSCs therapeutic applications. It suggested that improving the MSC immunosuppressive characteristic via genetic engineering to produce therapeutic molecules consider as one of the best options for this purpose. In this review, we explain the functions, immunologic properties, and clinical applications of MSCs to discuss the beneficial application of genetically modified MSCs in GVHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanaz Keshavarz Shahbaz
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Qazvin University of Medical Science, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Amir Hossein Mansourabadi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Immunogenetics Research Network (IgReN), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Davood Jafari
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
- Immunogenetics Research Network (IgReN), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Zanjan, Iran
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6
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Dubouchet L, Todorov H, Seurinck R, Vallet N, Van Gassen S, Corneau A, Blanc C, Zouali H, Boland A, Deleuze JF, Ingram B, de Latour RP, Saeys Y, Socié G, Michonneau D. Operational tolerance after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is characterized by distinct transcriptional, phenotypic, and metabolic signatures. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabg3083. [PMID: 35196024 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abg3083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying operational tolerance after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in humans are poorly understood. We studied two independent cohorts of patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from human leukocyte antigen-identical siblings. Primary tolerance was associated with long-lasting reshaping of the recipients' immune system compared to their healthy donors with an increased proportion of regulatory T cell subsets and decreased T cell activation, proliferation, and migration. Transcriptomics profiles also identified a role for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide biosynthesis in the regulation of immune cell functions. We then compared individuals with operational tolerance and nontolerant recipients at the phenotypic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic level. We observed alterations centered on CD38+-activated T and B cells in nontolerant patients. In tolerant patients, cell subsets with regulatory functions were prominent. RNA sequencing analyses highlighted modifications in the tolerant patients' transcriptomic profiles, particularly with overexpression of the ectoenzyme NT5E (encoding CD73), which could counterbalance CD38 enzymatic functions by producing adenosine. Further, metabolomic analyses suggested a central role of androgens in establishing operational tolerance. These data were confirmed using an integrative approach to evaluating the immune landscape associated with operational tolerance. Thus, balance between a CD38-activated immune state and CD73-related production of adenosine may be a key regulator of operational tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Helena Todorov
- Data Mining and Modeling for Biomedicine, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ruth Seurinck
- Data Mining and Modeling for Biomedicine, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Sofie Van Gassen
- Data Mining and Modeling for Biomedicine, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Aurélien Corneau
- Plateforme de Cytométrie de la Pitié-Salpétrière (CyPS), UMS037-PASS, Sorbonne Université-Faculté de Médecine, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Catherine Blanc
- Plateforme de Cytométrie de la Pitié-Salpétrière (CyPS), UMS037-PASS, Sorbonne Université-Faculté de Médecine, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Habib Zouali
- Centre d'étude du polymorphisme humain, 75010 Paris, France
| | - Anne Boland
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, 91057 Evry, France
| | - Jean-François Deleuze
- Centre d'étude du polymorphisme humain, 75010 Paris, France.,Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, 91057 Evry, France
| | | | - Regis Peffault de Latour
- Hematology Transplantation, Saint Louis Hospital, 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010 Paris, France
| | - Yvan Saeys
- Data Mining and Modeling for Biomedicine, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Gérard Socié
- Université de Paris, INSERM U976, F-75010 Paris, France.,Hematology Transplantation, Saint Louis Hospital, 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010 Paris, France
| | - David Michonneau
- Université de Paris, INSERM U976, F-75010 Paris, France.,Hematology Transplantation, Saint Louis Hospital, 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010 Paris, France
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7
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Targeting of canonical WNT signaling ameliorates experimental sclerodermatous chronic graft-versus-host disease. Blood 2021; 137:2403-2416. [PMID: 33529322 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020008720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is a major life-threatening complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The molecular mechanisms underlying cGVHD remain poorly understood, and targeted therapies for clinical use are not well established. Here, we examined the role of the canonical WNT pathway in sclerodermatous cGVHD (sclGVHD). WNT signaling was activated in human sclGVHD with increased nuclear accumulation of the transcription factor β-catenin and a WNT-biased gene expression signature in lesional skin. Treatment with the highly selective tankryase inhibitor G007-LK, the CK1α agonist pyrvinium, or the LRP6 inhibitor salinomycin abrogated the activation of WNT signaling and protected against experimental cGVHD, without a significant impact on graft-versus-leukemia effect (GVL). Treatment with G007-LK, pyrvinium, or salinomycin almost completely prevented the development of clinical and histological features in the B10.D2 (H-2d) → BALB/c (H-2d) and LP/J (H-2b) → C57BL/6 (H-2b) models of sclGVHD. Inhibition of canonical WNT signaling reduced the release of extracellular matrix from fibroblasts and reduced leukocyte influx, suggesting that WNT signaling stimulates fibrotic tissue remodeling by direct effects on fibroblasts and by indirect inflammation-dependent effects in sclGVHD. Our findings may have direct translational potential, because pyrvinium is in clinical use, and tankyrase inhibitors are in clinical trials for other indications.
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8
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Sclerotic chronic GVHD: you may WANT to block WNT. Blood 2021; 137:2284. [PMID: 33914081 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2021010953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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9
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Obert LA, Elmore SA, Ennulat D, Frazier KS. A Review of Specific Biomarkers of Chronic Renal Injury and Their Potential Application in Nonclinical Safety Assessment Studies. Toxicol Pathol 2021; 49:996-1023. [PMID: 33576319 DOI: 10.1177/0192623320985045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A host of novel renal biomarkers have been developed over the past few decades which have enhanced monitoring of renal disease and drug-induced kidney injury in both preclinical studies and in humans. Since chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury (AKI) share similar underlying mechanisms and the tubulointerstitial compartment has a functional role in the progression of CKD, urinary biomarkers of AKI may provide predictive information in chronic renal disease. Numerous studies have explored whether the recent AKI biomarkers could improve upon the standard clinical biomarkers, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and urinary albumin to creatinine ratio, for predicting outcomes in CKD patients. This review is an introduction to alternative assays that can be utilized in chronic (>3 months duration) nonclinical safety studies to provide information on renal dysfunction and to demonstrate specific situations where these assays could be utilized in nonclinical drug development. Novel biomarkers such as symmetrical dimethyl arginine, dickkopf homolog 3, and cystatin C predict chronic renal injury in animals, act as surrogates for GFR, and may predict changes in GFR in patients over time, ultimately providing a bridge from preclinical to clinical renal monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie A Obert
- 549350GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Nonclinical Safety, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - Susan A Elmore
- Cellular and Molecular Pathology Branch, National Toxicology Program (NTP), 6857National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Daniela Ennulat
- 549350GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Nonclinical Safety, Collegeville, PA, USA
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10
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Introna M, Golay J. Tolerance to Bone Marrow Transplantation: Do Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Still Have a Future for Acute or Chronic GvHD? Front Immunol 2020; 11:609063. [PMID: 33362797 PMCID: PMC7759493 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.609063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) are fibroblast-like cells of mesodermal origin present in many tissues and which have the potential to differentiate to osteoblasts, adipocytes and chondroblasts. They also have a clear immunosuppressive and tissue regeneration potential. Indeed, the initial classification of MSCs as pluripotent stem cells, has turned into their identification as stromal progenitors. Due to the relatively simple procedures available to expand in vitro large numbers of GMP grade MSCs from a variety of different tissues, many clinical trials have tested their therapeutic potential in vivo. One pathological condition where MSCs have been quite extensively tested is steroid resistant (SR) graft versus host disease (GvHD), a devastating condition that may occur in acute or chronic form following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The clinical and experimental results obtained have outlined a possible efficacy of MSCs, but unfortunately statistical significance in clinical studies has only rarely been reached and effects have been relatively limited in most cases. Nonetheless, the extremely complex pathogenetic mechanisms at the basis of GvHD, the fact that studies have been conducted often in patients who had been previously treated with multiple lines of therapy, the variable MSC doses and schedules administered in different trials, the lack of validated potency assays and clear biomarkers, the difference in MSC sources and production methods may have been major factors for this lack of clear efficacy in vivo. The heterogeneity of MSCs and their different stromal differentiation potential and biological activity may be better understood through more refined single cell sequencing and proteomic studies, where either an “anti-inflammatory” or a more “immunosuppressive” profile can be identified. We summarize the pathogenic mechanisms of acute and chronic GvHD and the role for MSCs. We suggest that systematic controlled clinical trials still need to be conducted in the most promising clinical settings, using better characterized cells and measuring efficacy with specific biomarkers, before strong conclusions can be drawn about the therapeutic potential of these cells in this context. The same analysis should be applied to other inflammatory, immune or degenerative diseases where MSCs may have a therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martino Introna
- Center of Cellular Therapy "G. Lanzani", Division of Haematology, Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Josée Golay
- Center of Cellular Therapy "G. Lanzani", Division of Haematology, Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy.,Fondazione per la Ricerca Ospedale Maggiore, Bergamo, Italy
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