Complex interactions of cellular players in chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease

• Published in: Frontiers in immunology Vol. 14; p. 1199422
• Main Authors: Gail, Laura Marie, Schell, Kimberly Julia, Łacina, Piotr, Strobl, Johanna, Bolton, Steven J, Steinbakk Ulriksen, Emilie, Bogunia-Kubik, Katarzyna, Greinix, Hildegard, Crossland, Rachel Emily, Inngjerdingen, Marit, Stary, Georg
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 26.06.2023
• Subjects: Antigen-Presenting Cells; B-Lymphocytes; Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome; Cell Communication; cell-cell communication; chronic graft-versus-host disease; Extracellular Vesicles; GvHD pathogenesis; hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; Humans; immune cell networks; Immunology; hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; immune cell networks; GvHD pathogenesis; cell-cell communication; chronic graft-versus-host disease
• ISSN: 1664-3224; 1664-3224
• DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1199422

Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease is a life-threatening inflammatory condition that affects many patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Although we have made substantial progress in understanding disease pathogenesis and the role of specific immune cell subsets, treatment options are still limited. To date, we lack a global understanding of the interplay between the different cellular players involved, in the affected tissues and at different stages of disease development and progression. In this review we summarize our current knowledge on pathogenic and protective mechanisms elicited by the major involved immune subsets, being T cells, B cells, NK cells and antigen presenting cells, as well as the microbiome, with a special focus on intercellular communication of these cell types extracellular vesicles as up-and-coming fields in chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease research. Lastly, we discuss the importance of understanding systemic and local aberrant cell communication during disease for defining better biomarkers and therapeutic targets, eventually enabling the design of personalized treatment schemes.