The expression of LIGHT and HVEM in T lymphocytes post allo-HSCT and its relation to the development of GVHD / 中华器官移植杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the relationship between the expression of LIGHT/HVEM in patients after allo-HSCT and the development of GVHD. Methods The expression of LIGHT and HVEM in T lymphocytes was detected by FACS Calibur. Results All patients achieved engraftment and hematopoiesis reconstitution, aGVHD occurred in 9 of 26 patients (34.6%) with grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ aGVHD in 3 cases. Seven cases developed cGVHD (26.9%). LIGHT was not expressed in T lymphocytes from healthy donors and patients without GVHD, while constitutive expression of HVEM was detected. When aGVHD occurred, the expression levels of LIGHT in T lymphocytes were significantly increased, while those of HVEM decreased. After GVHD was controlled, the expression levels of those co-stimulators went back to normal On the day 15 after transplantation, the expression of LIGHT in T lymphocytes of patients with aGVHD later was significantly higher, while that of HVEM lower than in those without aGVHD. The patients with aGVHD of grades Ⅲ-Ⅳ demonstrated higher LIGHT expression than in those with aGVHD of grades Ⅰ-Ⅱ. Conclusion The expression of LIGHT and HVEM might be involved in the development of GVHD after allo-HSCT and could be used as one of the useful indicators in predicting aGVHD.