CD8 serum levels in acute graft-versus-host disease diagnosis

• Published in: Journal of clinical immunology Vol. 14; no. 4; p. 224
• Main Authors: Bavaro, P, Bonfini, T, Di Girolamo, G, Angelini, A, Di Bartolomeo, P, Angrilli, F, Papalinetti, G, Olioso, P, Torlontano, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 01.07.1994
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Adolescent; Adult; Bone Marrow Transplantation - immunology; CD4 Antigens - blood; CD8 Antigens - blood; Child, Preschool; Female; Graft vs Host Disease - diagnosis; Graft vs Host Disease - immunology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0271-9142
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01552308

Attempts to identify an early and discriminating marker of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) have been unsuccessful. The levels of soluble CD4 and soluble CD8 in serum correlate with T cell subset activation and may be important in monitoring and characterizing immunological processes. We determined serum soluble CD4 (sCD4) and sCD8 levels with a two-site sandwich enzyme immunoassay on patients' serum samples collected prior to bone marrow transplantation and weekly after transplantation until day +28. No significant increment of sCD4 was documented in each determination. sCD8 rose significantly before diagnosis or development of maximal clinical symptoms in patients with grade II-III aGvHD than grade 0-I aGvHD [at day +21--median value 447 IU/ml; range 94-713; versus 1136 IU/ml, range 790-1416 (P = 0.002); at day +28--median value 443 IU/ml, range 73-992, versus 1164 IU/ml, range 625-1960 (P = 0.005)]. On the day of marrow infusion the sCD8 levels were significantly higher in patients who subsequently developed grade II-III than in patients with grade 0-I aGvHD (median value 155 IU/ml, range 10-332, versus 350 IU/ml, range 283-830; P = 0.003). Careful monitoring of sCD8 is a useful tool for a prompt aGvHD diagnosis and may be used in a clinical bone marrow transplantation setting.