Thymic stromal lymphopoietin levels after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

• Published in: Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology Vol. 44; no. 6; pp. 1004 - 1012
• Main Authors: Møller, Dina Leth, Kielsen, Katrine, Nielsen, Claus Henrik, Sengeløv, Henrik, Pedersen, Anders Elm, Ryder, Lars Peter, Müller, Klaus
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 02.11.2022
• Subjects: alloreactivity; chronic GvHD; hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation - adverse effects; Humans; Immune Reconstitution; Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin; hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; immune reconstitution; Thymic stromal lymphopoietin; alloreactivity; chronic GvHD
• ISSN: 0892-3973; 1532-2513
• DOI: 10.1080/08923973.2022.2102989

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an immunoregulatory, Th2-polarizing cytokine produced by epithelial cells. We hypothesized that TSLP affects immune reconstitution after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) leading to increased alloreactivity. We measured plasma TSLP by ELISA in 38 patients and assessed the immune reconstitution by flow cytometry. TSLP levels rose after initiation of the conditioning to peak at day +21 after HSCT (p = .03), where TSLP levels correlated with counts of neutrophils (rho = 0.36, p = .04), monocytes (rho = 0.58, p = .006), and lymphocytes (rho = 0.59, p = .02). Overall absolute TSLP levels were not associated with acute or chronic graft-vs-host disease (a/cGvHD). However, patients mounting a sustained increase in TSLP levels at day +90 had a higher risk of cGvHD compared to patients who had returned to pre-conditioning levels at that stage (cumulative incidence: 77% vs. 38%, p = .01). In conclusion, this study suggests a role of TSLP in immune reconstitution and alloreactivity post-HSCT. lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an immunoregulatory, Th2-polarizing cytokine produced by epithelial cells. We hypothesized that TSLP affects immune reconstitution after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) leading to increased alloreactivity. We measured plasma TSLP by ELISA in 38 patients and assessed the immune reconstitution by flow cytometry.