Reconstitution of dendritic cells after myeloablative allogeneic haematopoetic stem cell transplantation: Implications for the development of acute graft-versus host disease
Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoetic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) represents a unique opportunity to monitor the kinetics of reconstitution of dendritic cells (DCs) and their dynamics in distinct pathologies. We analyzed DCs reconstitution after myeloablative HSCT.
We separately analyzed patients with acute GVHD. DCs were monitored from the earliest phase of hematopoetic reconstitution until day +365.
Both myeloid DCs and plasmacytoid DCs appeared at earliest stages after engraftment and relative numbers within white blood cells compartment peaked between days 19-25 after HSCT. Their proportion then gradually declined and absolute numbers of both DC subsets remained lower than in controls during the whole follow-up.
Patients with acute GVHD had significantly lower numbers of circulating DCs. Decrease in DC counts preceded onset of clinical symptoms by at least 24h and was independent of corticosteroids administration.