The chemokine system in allogeneic stem-cell transplantation: a possible therapeutic target?

Expert Rev Hematol. 2011 Oct;4(5):563-76. doi: 10.1586/ehm.11.54.

Abstract

Further improvements in allogeneic stem-cell transplantation will probably depend on a better balance between immunosuppression to control graft-versus-host disease and immunological reconstitution sufficient to ensure engraftment, reduction of infection-related mortality and maintenance of post-transplant antileukemic immune reactivity. The chemokine network is an important part of the immune system, and, in addition, CXCL12/CXCR4 seem to be essential for granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-induced stem-cell mobilization. Partial ex vivo graft T-cell depletion based on the expression of specific chemokine receptors involved in T-cell recruitment to graft-versus-host disease target organs may also become a future therapeutic strategy; an alternative approach could be pharmacological inhibition (single-receptor inhibitors or dual-receptor inhibitors) in vivo of specific chemokine receptors involved in this T-cell recruitment. Future clinical studies should therefore be based on a better characterization of various immunocompetent cells, including their chemokine receptor profile, both in the allografts and during post-transplant reconstitution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Chemokines / immunology
  • Chemokines / metabolism*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / prevention & control
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / metabolism
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / therapy
  • Humans
  • Receptors, Chemokine / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, Chemokine / immunology
  • Receptors, Chemokine / metabolism
  • Stem Cell Transplantation* / adverse effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Transplantation, Homologous

Substances

  • Chemokines
  • Receptors, Chemokine
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor