High expression of granzyme B in conventional CD4+ T cells is associated with increased relapses after allogeneic stem cells transplantation in patients with hematological malignancies.

High expression of granzyme B in conventional CD4+ T cells is associated with increased relapses after allogeneic stem cells transplantation in patients with hematological malignancies. Transpl Immunol. 2020 Apr 14;:101295 Authors: Drokov M, Davydova Y, Popova N, Kapranov N, Starikova O, Mikhaltsova E, Nareyko M, Dmitrova A, Konova Z, Galtseva I, Kuzmina L, Parovichnikova E, Savchenko V Abstract Granzyme B is known to be a serine protease contained in granules of cytotoxic T cells. We have previously reported an influence of granzyme B expression in T regulatory cells (Tregs) on the risk of acute graft versus host disease (GVHD) onset. However, it is still unknown if conventional T cells (Tcon) use the granzyme B pathway as a mechanism of alloimmunity. We hypothesized that granzyme B in Tcon may affect recurrence within the first 6 months after allogeneic transplantation (allo-HSCT). A total of 65 patients with different hematological malignancies were included in this study. Blood samples were collected on day +30 after allo-HSCT. The percentage of granzyme B positive conventional T cells in patients who developed relapse in the first 6 months after allo-HSCT was 11.3 (4.5-35.3) compared to the others in continuous complete remission-1.3 (3.65-9.7), р = 0.011. The risk of relapse after allo-HSCT was in 3.9 times higher in patients with an increased percentage of granzyme B positive conventional T cells. The findings demonst...
Source: Transplant Immunology - Category: Transplant Surgery Authors: Tags: Transpl Immunol Source Type: research