Recipient NK cell inactivation and intestinal barrier loss are required for MHC-matched graft-versus-host disease.

ABSTRACT: Previous studies have shown a correlation between pretransplant conditioning intensity, intestinal barrier loss, and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) severity. However, because irradiation and other forms of pretransplant conditioning have pleiotropic effects, the precise role of intestinal barrier loss in GVHD pathogenesis remains unclear. We developed GVHD models that allowed us to isolate the specific contributions of distinct pretransplant variables. Intestinal damage was required for the induction of minor mismatch [major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-matched] GVHD, but was not necessary for major mismatch GVHD, demonstrating fundamental pathogenic distinctions between these forms of disease. Moreover, recipient natural killer (NK) cells prevented minor mismatch GVHD by limiting ex

SUBMITTER: Nalle SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4161673 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature