Detection of B cells may predict graft-versus-host disease

By Stephanie Leveene, medwireNews Reporter

The ability to detect B cells specific to the DEAD box protein (DBY-2) may help predict the development of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) in male recipients of female hematopoietic cells, according to recent findings.

"These findings may provide a mechanistic explanation for the moderate efficacy of in vivo B-cell depletion in treating cGVHD, and further suggests that more focused B-cell targeting, e.g., with DBY-2… might be more effective cGVHD therapy," write Leonard Herzenberg and David Miklos and colleagues, from Stanford University School of Medicine in California, USA, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

In a related press statement, Miklos said that "the overwhelming majority of patients who have these [DBY-2-specific] cells in their blood either have or will develop cGVHD within one to three months," and that previously there had been no reliable predictive indicators for cGVHD onset.

The investigators analyzed blood samples from 28 male patients with leukemia or lymphoma who received hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) grafts from female donors. The analysis took place 6 months after HCT.

Of the 28 patients, 16 (57%) had blood samples containing detectable DBY-2-specific B cells. Fifteen of the 16 patients eventually developed cGVHD, though six of those patients already had cGVHD when their blood was drawn. By contrast, only five of 12 patients who did not have DBY-2-specific B cells developed cGVHD.

Therefore, as the authors state, "we conclude that the presence of B cells with receptors that recognize the DBY-2 is positively associated with development of cGVHD." However, they acknowledge that the exact role these cells play in cGVHD is unclear; they may actively affect early pathogenesis or be passively induced by other T-cell-activating mechanisms.

The investigators recommend prospective monitoring of DBY-2-specific B cells in order to develop a more effective schedule for alloreactive B-cell depletion therapy, ultimately leading toward prevention of cGVHD. This monitoring will also allow for determining whether current depletion therapy is effective or if in fact these cells persist during cGVHD recurrence.

Licensed from medwireNews with permission from Springer Healthcare Ltd. ©Springer Healthcare Ltd. All rights reserved. Neither of these parties endorse or recommend any commercial products, services, or equipment.

Comments

  1. Betsy Pierce Betsy Pierce United States says:

    I really think it is time that we revisit the language that we use to announce discoveries to the public.  There is this overwhelming sense of distrust among the public; as though we already have made all the discoveries but we are withholding them so the pharmaceutical companies can make their profits.  Statements like: "the overwhelming majority of patients who have these [DBY-2-specific] cells in their blood either have or will develop cGVHD within one to three months," may very well be part of the problem.  This study looked at 28 MALE patients with LEUKEMIA and/or LYMPHOMA.  That is a very small component of the patients who have allo-BMT every year and is very disease specific.  This by no means is a good enough representation of BMT patients to make such a sweeping statement.  However, the public reads it as being the gospel.  We really need to check our egos at the door and start working together to really move our studies forward for meaningful results.  And stop reporting every little promising discovery as the gospel truth!  Anyone who doesn't understand what I mean should recall when leptin was going to cure obesity!

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
Post a new comment
Post

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.

You might also like...
COVID-19 increases chronic fatigue risk