Profiles of pro-inflammatory cytokines in allogenic stem cell transplantation with post-transplant cyclophosphamide

• Published in: Cytokine (Philadelphia, Pa.) Pa.), 2017-11, Vol.99, p.148-153
• Main Authors: Pirogova, O.V., Moiseev, I.S., Surkova, E.A., Lapin, S.V., Bondarenko, S.N., Kulagin, A.D., Afanasyev, B.V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allogeneic stem cell transplantation; Biomarkers; Graft-versus-host-disease; Post-transplant cyclophosphamide
• ISSN: 1043-4666; 1096-0023
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2017.08.016

Large number of studies was published about predictive value of cytokines for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Recently, there has been a growing interest in GVHD prophylaxis with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy). Clinical data on the dynamics of proinflammatory cytokines with this prophylaxis is lacking. In this study, we have measured the levels of IL-17, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ and TNF-α in plasma on days −7, 0, +7, +14 and after engraftment in 20 patients with acute GVHD and 40 matched control patients with PTCy-based prophylaxis. Low levels of IL-8 (p=0.04) on day +7 and IFN-γ (p=0.03) after engraftment were associated with grade II-IV acute GVHD. The same pattern was observed for severe acute GVHD. Low IFN-γ after engraftment was also associated with increased non-relapse mortality (p=0.014). No impact of cytokine levels on overall survival and relapse incidence was observed (p>0.05). In conclusion, the dynamics of IL-8 and IFN-γ in GVHD patients after PTCy was different from previously reported after conventional prophylaxis.