Rehabilitative intervention during and after pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: An analysis of the existing literature

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a therapeutic strategy for several oncohematological diseases. It increases survival rates but leads to a high incidence of related effects. The objective of this paper was to examine the existing literature on physical exercise interventions among pediatric HSCT recipients to explore the most often utilized rehabilitative assessment and treatment tools. Studies published from 2002 to April 1, 2015 were selected: 10 studies were included. A previous literary review has shown that rehabilitation programs have a positive impact on quality of life. Our analysis identified some significant outcome variables and shared intervention areas.     

异基因造血干细胞移植后慢性移植物抗宿主病小鼠模型的建立和评价

目的 采用化疗药物预处理方案建立异基因造血干细胞移植的慢性移植物抗宿主病小鼠模型,并进行评价.方法 以BALB/cH-2kd小鼠作为供鼠,C57BL/6H-2kd小鼠为受鼠.对受鼠使用不同的化疗药物进行预处理[方案1:白消安20mg/(kg·d)×4d+环磷酰胺150mg/(kg·d)×2 d;方案2:白消安20mg/(kg·d)×4 d+环磷酰胺100mg/(kg·d)×2 d],然后经尾静脉注射不同剂量的供鼠脾细胞(6×107或4×107个)和(或)相同剂量的骨髓细胞(2×107个),建立慢性移植物抗宿主病小鼠模型;采用嵌合体分析、临床评分、组织病理学等进行评价.结果 采用白消安20mg/(kg·d)×4d-+环磷酰胺150mg/(kg·d)×2d的方案进行预处理、2×107个骨髓单个核细胞+6×107个脾单个核细胞进行移植可形成较高水平的供受者混合嵌合体.移植物抗宿主病发生时间多集中在供鼠脾细胞输注后30～90 d,化疗药物剂量大的预处理方案及移植细胞数高的移植组小鼠的临床评分和慢性移植物抗宿主病的发生率高于化疗药物剂量小的预处理方案及移植细胞数少的移植组(P＜0.05).模型小鼠肠、肝脏、皮肤、脾脏等器官出现细胞和结构异常、炎症细胞浸润等病理改变.结论 采用白消安和环磷酰胺预处理、给予2×107个骨髓单个核细胞+6×107或4×107个脾单个核细胞可形成较稳定的慢性移植物抗宿主病小鼠模型,为进一步指导临床治疗慢性移植物抗宿主病奠定了实验基础.     

A gut microbiota score predicting acute graft‐versus‐host disease following myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Although studies have reported that intestinal microbiota are associated with acute graft‐versus‐host disease (aGVHD), they lacked a satisfactory method for predicting aGVHD. We collected stool and blood samples at day 15 posttransplant from 150 patients from two centers who underwent myeloablative conditioning allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT). Stool microbiota were detected by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing; inflammatory factors and T lymphocytes were detected by multiplex immunoassays and flow cytometry, respectively. A gut microbiota score (GMS) from a LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) model was developed and validated to predict aGVHD. In the discovery cohort, the GMS could predict II‐IV aGVHD (area under the receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve [AUC] = 0.904, P < .0001). Furthermore, the validation model was consistent with the discovery set (AUC = 0.887, P < .0001). Regulatory T/T‐helper 17 (Treg/Th17) cells ratio in the low GMS subgroup was higher compared with the high GMS (P = .012), and the validation set is consistent with the discovery set (P = .003). In addition, high cytokine levels were associated with high GMS. In conclusion, the GMS at neutrophil engraftment could predict aGVHD, and it was a potential and novel method. The GMS was associated with the inflammatory factor and Treg/Th17 balance.     

Radiation and host retinoic acid signaling promote the induction of gut‐homing donor T cells after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Intestinal graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) remains a devastating complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Although it has been well established that gut‐tropic donor T cells expressing integrin α4β7 are required to cause intestinal damage, the factors that control the induction of this pathogenic T cell population remain to be identified. Retinoic acid (RA) plays an important role in inducing α4β7 expression on T cells. In this study, we showed that gene expression of retinaldehyde dehydrogenase, the key enzyme involved in RA biosynthesis, is significantly increased in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) of irradiated mice. In a C57BL/6‐into‐B6D2F1 allogeneic HSCT model, irradiation significantly increased the induction of α4β7⁺‐donor T cells in mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen. Furthermore, we found that the RA pathway modulates the ability of dendritic cells to imprint gut‐homing specificity on alloreactive T cells. We also showed that host dendritic cell RA signaling influences GVHD risk. Our studies identified radiation and recipient RA signaling as 2 primary factors that dictate the magnitude of gut‐homing donor T cell induction after allogeneic HSCT. Attenuating radiation‐associated inflammation and modulating host RA signaling represent feasible strategies to mitigate intestinal GVHD by reducing gut‐seeking pathogenic donor T cells.     

单倍体异基因淋巴细胞输注在小鼠移植物抗宿主病和移植物抗肿瘤效应中的意义

目的建立小鼠免疫耐受模型,探讨单倍体异基因淋巴细胞输注在小鼠移植物抗宿主病（GVHD）和移植物抗肿瘤（GVT）效应中的意义。方法64只BALB／C雌性小鼠按随机数字表法分为4组,每组16只。对照组：实验第4天接种肿瘤细胞（小鼠大肠癌CT26细胞株配制成1×10^7／mL的瘤细胞悬液,接种到雌性小鼠右腋皮下）后不予任何特殊处理;化疗组：实验第4天接种肿瘤细胞,第7天开始化疗;供体淋巴细胞输注（DLI）组：实验开始时进行预处理,第4天接种肿瘤细胞,第13、15、17天输注单倍体异基因淋巴细胞（雄性BALB／C小鼠制备的脾淋巴细胞）;化疗＋DLI组：实验开始时进行预处理,第4天接种肿瘤细胞,第7天开始化疗,第13、15、17天输注单倍体异基因淋巴细胞。预处理方案为输注单倍体异基因淋巴细胞＋环磷酰胺＋输注单倍体异基因淋巴细胞。化疗方案为小鼠接种肿瘤细胞后第3天给予环磷酰胺腹腔化疗。每日观察各组小鼠临床GVHD的指标,并给予临床评分。观察荷瘤鼠肿瘤生长情况,计算接种成功后首日到小鼠死亡的时间和肿瘤质量,计算抑瘤率。应用流式细胞仪检测各组小鼠外周静脉血中T细胞数量,接种后15d各组处死3只小鼠取瘤体制作成观察切片,HE染色后光镜观察。多组比较采用方差分析,组间比较采用LSD—t检验。结果化疗＋DLI组的小鼠GVHD临床表现轻于其他组小鼠。对照组、化疗组、DLI组、化疗＋DLI组GVHD评分分别为（2．3±0．6）分、（1．5±1．1）分、（6．7±0．9）分、（3．4±0．5）分,4组比较,差异有统计学意义（F=148．68,P〈0．05）。4组小鼠全部接种CT26细胞成功。对照组、化疗组、DLI组、化疗＋DLI组小鼠肿瘤质量分别为（3．40±0．20）g、（0．80±0．10）g、（2．20±0．20）g、（0．50±0．30）g,4组比较,差异有统计学意义（F=149．17,P〈0．05）;4组小鼠抑瘤率分别为0、77％±9％、35％±3％、85％±44％;4组小鼠CD3’分别为52．3％±2．9％、44．8％±3．1％、62．9％±3．5％、65．9％±3．3％,4组比较,差异有统计学意义（F：28．04,P〈0．05）;4组小鼠CD3＋CD4＋分别为32．1％±2．6％、27．1％±1．1％、42．6％±1．8％、41．7％±2．4％,4组比较,差异有统计学意义（F=40．29,P〈0．05）;4组小鼠CD3＋CD8＋分别为22．7％±2．2％、20．7％±1．8％、26．7％±0．8％、26．1％±0．7％,4组比较,差异有统计学意义（F=10．74,P〈0．05）;4组小鼠CD3＋CD＋CD25＋分别为8．7％±0．6％、6．6％±0．6％、11．2％±0．4％、13．3％±0．7％,4组比较,差异有统计学意义（F=82．88,P〈0．05）。4组小鼠的肿瘤组织均有不同程度的坏死、出血,其中DLI组和化疗＋DLI组肿瘤组织大片坏死,瘤细胞变小,间质内有大量炎性细胞浸润,化疗＋DLI组还可见大量增生的淋巴滤泡。对照组、化疗组、DLI组、化疗＋DLI组小鼠生存时间分别为（16．8±2．5）d、（26．3±2．9）d、（23．4±2．5）d、（33．7±4．6）d,4组比较,差异有统计学意义（F=46．45,P〈0．05）。结论（1）预处理方案可以诱导小鼠的特异性免疫耐受。（2）单倍体异基因淋巴细胞输注与化疗具有协同作用,联合应用可以抑制小鼠皮下移植瘤瘤体的生长以及延长小鼠的生存时间。（3）化疗可降低供体淋巴细胞输注后诱发的GVHD效应并且提高了GVT效果。（4）CD3＋CIN＋CD25＋T淋巴细胞在降低GVHD反应中起着重要的作用。     

Progress in the management of chronic GVHD insights into novel therapies to treat and manage GVHD lasting longer than 12 Months

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is a major cause of poor outcomes after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). An increased understanding of the pathobiology of cGVHD has led to the development of novel therapies. This review summarized the underlying pathogenesis of cGVHD and has provided considerations for integrating new agents into practice.     

Leukemic relapse in the central nervous system after allogeneic stem cell transplantation with complete remission in the bone marrow and donor-type chimerism: report of two cases

We studied two cases with leukemia that relapsed in the central nervous system (CNS) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. One patient underwent peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (SCT) from a related, yet haplotype-mismatched, donor for chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. She was kept in complete remission (CR) in the bone marrow (BM) for 7 months, until relapse in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was evident. In the other patient, with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, systemic relapse occurred when he was still on immunosuppression 6 months after SCT from an unrelated donor. After induction chemotherapy following cessation of immunosuppression, the BM examination proved CR. During consolidation chemotherapy, however, he developed leukemic dissemination in the CSF, despite the fact that the BM was in CR. Chimerism status in the BM mononuclear cells and fractionated peripheral blood (PB) cells (granulocytes, T-lymphocytes, and the others) was assessed by short tandem repeat analysis. In both patients, the BM cells and all the fractions of the PB cells proved donor-type chimeras. These results seem to suggest that the graft-versus-leukemia effects might not be as effective in the CNS as in the BM, even when complete T-lymphoid chimerism is achieved.     

The initial phase of graft‐versus‐host disease is associated with a decrease of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in the peripheral blood of patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation

The mechanisms that induce and control the alloimmune inflammation of graft‐versus‐host disease (GvHD) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo‐SCT) are still incompletely understood. In the murine system, GvHD can be suppressed by CD4⁺CD25⁺ regulatory T cells (TREG), which are generally involved in the suppression of inflammatory reactions. A disruption of the homeostasis between TREG and conventional T cells might therefore be associated with the inflammatory reactions of GvHD. We repetitively measured the frequency of TREG in the peripheral blood of 29 patients within the first 71–373 days after allo‐SCT and correlated the results with the clinical course. We demonstrate that the initial phase of GvHD is associated with a significant reduction of TREG in the peripheral blood, while at later stages and during intensified immunosuppressive therapy, increased numbers of TREG appear. These results might indicate a pathogenic role for reduced numbers of TREG in the induction of human GvHD.     

Nuclear factor-κB1 and MicroRNA-146a polymorphisms and risk of acute graft versus host disease post allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a severe inflammatory complication of haematopoeitic stem cell transplantation. The nuclear factor- Kappa Beta (NF-κB) signaling pathway regulates T cell activation. The NF-κB controls the expression of microRNA-146a (miR-146a) that in turn regulates NF-κB activation through a negative feedback loop. We aim to analyze the association between NF-κB1 encoding p50 (rs28362491, −94 in.ertion/deletion ATTG) and miR-146a (rs2910164, G > C) polymorphisms and risk of aGVHD. Genotyping was performed for 135 HLA-matched donors using polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).The incidence of aGVHD grades II-IV was 24/135 (17.8 %). NF-κB1 genotype and cytomegalovirus infection were significantly associated with risk of aGVHD II-IV (p = 0.022, HR = 3.17, 95 % CI:1.18-8.51 and p = 0.048, HR = 2.56, 95 % CI:1.01–6.52, respectively). In multivariate analysis, NF-κB1homozygous deletion/deletion genotype was the only independent risk factor associated with aGVHD II-IV (p = 0.013, HR = 3.50, 95 % CI:1.30–9.44). No significant association could be observed between miR-146a polymorphism and aGVHD. Combined NF-κB1 and miR146a genotype analysis warrants investigation in a larger cohort. Our preliminary data do not support the association between miR146a and aGVHD, but suggest an association between NF-κB1 and risk of aGVHD that may pave the way for the development of a novel targeted therapy if proved in a larger cohort.