Background: Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is still a major complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT). Recent data indicates that transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) may play a role in development of GVH reaction.
Material/methods: Forty patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) were included. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to assess the expression of mRNA TGF-beta1. TGF-beta1 serum concentration was assessed using a commercial ELISA.
Results: In all patients, a prompt decrease in TGF-beta1 mRNA expression and its serum concentration was demonstrated after conditioning. In patients with acute GVHD, TGF-beta1 mRNA expression and its serum concentration remained low until day +30 after transplant as compared to the day of transplant (p<0.03 and p<0.006, respectively). TGF-beta1 mRNA expression and its serum concentration significantly increased on day +100 in patients who developed chronic GVHD as compared to the day of transplant (p<0.0009 and p<0.02, respectively).
Conclusions: TGF-beta1 seems to be an additional regulator of donor engraftment; its low levels probably being one of the factors contributing to the development of acute GVHD. On the other hand, chronic GVHD symptoms seem to correlate with high TGF-beta1 mRNA expression and its serum concentration in patients who underwent bone marrow transplantation for myeloid leukemias. Nevertheless, further studies with greater numbers of patients are needed to establish the role of TGF-beta1 in graft-versus-host disease pathophysiology.