Post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy) has been highly successful at preventing severe acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). The clinical application of this approach was based on extensive studies in major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-matched murine skin allografting models, in which cyclophosphamide was believed to act via three main mechanisms: (1) selective elimination of alloreactive T cells; (2) intrathymic clonal deletion of alloreactive T-cell precursors; and (3) induction of suppressor T cells. In these models, cyclophosphamide was only effective in very specific contexts, requiring particular cell dose, cell source, PTCy dose, and recipient age. Achievement of transient mixed chimerism also was required. Furthermore, these studies showed differences in the impact of cyclophosphamide on transplanted cells (tumor) versus tissue (skin grafts), including the ability of cyclophosphamide to prevent rejection of the former but not the latter after MHC-mismatched transplants. Yet, clinically PTCy has demonstrated efficacy in MHC-matched or partially-MHC-mismatched HCT across a wide array of patients and HCT platforms. Importantly, clinically significant acute GVHD occurs frequently after PTCy, inconsistent with alloreactive T-cell elimination, whereas PTCy is most active against severe acute GVHD and chronic GVHD. These differences between murine skin allografting and clinical HCT suggest that the above-mentioned mechanisms may not be responsible for GVHD prevention by PTCy. Indeed, recent work by our group in murine HCT has shown that PTCy does not eliminate alloreactive T cells nor is the thymus necessary for PTCy's efficacy. Instead, other mechanisms appear to be playing important roles, including: (1) reduction of alloreactive CD4+ effector T-cell proliferation; (2) induced functional impairment of surviving alloreactive CD4+ and CD8+ effector T cells; and (3) preferential recovery of CD4+ regulatory T cells. Herein, we review the history of cyclophosphamide's use in preventing murine skin allograft rejection and our evolving new understanding of the mechanisms underlying its efficacy in preventing GVHD after HCT. Efforts are ongoing to more fully refine and elaborate this proposed new working model. The completion of this effort will provide critical insight relevant for the rational design of novel approaches to improve outcomes for PTCy-treated patients and for the induction of tolerance in other clinical contexts.

Background: Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is an Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) characterized by uncontrolled immune response, diarrhoea, weight loss and bloody stools, where sustained remission is not currently achievable. Dextran Sulphate Sodium (DSS)-induced colitis is an animal model that closely mimics human UC. Ultrasound (US) has been shown to prevent experimental acute kidney injury through vagus nerve (VN) stimulation and activation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAIP). Since IBD patients may present dysfunctional VN activity, our aim was to determine the effects of therapeutic ultrasound (TUS) in DSS-induced colitis. Methods: Acute colitis was induced by 2% DSS in drinking water for 7 days and TUS was administered to the abdominal area for 7 min/day from days 4-10. Clinical symptoms were analysed, and biological samples were collected for proteomics, macroscopic and microscopic analysis, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Findings: TUS attenuated colitis by reducing clinical scores, colon shortening and histological damage, inducing proteomic tolerogenic response in the gut during the injury phase and early recovery of experimental colitis. TUS did not improve clinical and pathological outcomes in splenectomised mice, while α7nAChR (α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-indicator of CAIP involvement) knockout animals presented with disease worsening. Increased levels of colonic F4/80 + α7nAChR + macrophages in wild type mice suggest CAIP activation. Interpretation: These results indicate TUS improved DSS-induced colitis through stimulation of the splenic nerve along with possible contribution by VN with CAIP activation. Fund: Intramural Research Programs of the Clinical Centre, the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering at the NIH and CAPES/Brazil.

BackgroundEssential Thrombocythemia (ET) and Primary Myelofibrosis (PMF) are Chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPN) characterized by clonal myeloproliferation/myeloaccumulation without cell maturation impairment. The JAK2 V617F mutation and PRV1 gene overexpression may contribute to MPN physiopathology. We hypothesized that deregulation of the apoptotic machinery may also play a role in the pathogenesis of ET and PMF. In this study we evaluated the apoptosis-related gene and protein expression of BCL2 family members in bone marrow CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and peripheral blood leukocytes from ET and PMF patients. We also tested whether the gene expression results were correlated with JAK2 V617F allele burden percentage, PRV1 overexpression, and clinical and laboratory parameters.ResultsBy real time PCR assay, we observed that A1, MCL1, BIK and BID, as well as A1, BCLW and BAK gene expression were increased in ET and PMF CD34+ cells respectively, while pro-apoptotic BAX and anti-apoptotic BCL2 mRNA levels were found to be lower in ET and PMF CD34+ cells respectively, in relation to controls. In patients' leukocytes, we detected an upregulation of anti-apoptotic genes A1, BCL2, BCL-XL and BCLW. In contrast, pro-apoptotic BID and BIMEL expression were downregulated in ET leukocytes. Increased BCL-XL protein expression in PMF leukocytes and decreased BID protein expression in ET leukocytes were observed by Western Blot. In ET leukocytes, we found a correlation between JAK2 V617F allele burden and BAX, BIK and BAD gene expression and between A1, BAX and BIK and PRV1 gene expression. A negative correlation between PRV1 gene expression and platelet count was observed, as well as a positive correlation between PRV1 gene expression and splenomegaly.ConclusionsOur results suggest the participation of intrinsic apoptosis pathway in the MPN physiopathology. In addition, PRV1 and JAK2 V617F allele burden were linked to deregulation of the apoptotic machinery.

AIMTo investigate the temporal clinical, proteomic, histological and cellular immune profiles of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis.METHODSAcute colitis was induced in C57Bl/6 female mice by administration of 1%, 2% or 3% DSS in drinking water for 7 d. Animals were monitored daily for weight loss, stool consistency and blood in the stool, while spleens and colons were harvested on day 8. A time course analysis was performed in mice ingesting 3% DSS, which included colon proteomics through multiplex assay, colon histological scoring by a blinded investigator, and immune response through flow cytometry or immunohistochemistry of the spleen, mesenteric lymph node and colon.RESULTSProgressive worsening of clinical colitis was observed with increasing DSS from 1% to 3%. In mice ingesting 3% DSS, colon shortening and increase in pro-inflammatory factors starting at day 3 was observed, with increased spleen weights at day 6 and day 8. This coincided with cellular infiltration in the colon from day 2 to day 8, with progressive accumulation of macrophages F4/80+, T helper CD4+ (Th), T cytotoxic CD8+ (Tcyt) and T regulatory CD25+ (Treg) cells, and progressive changes in colonic pathology including destruction of crypts, loss of goblet cells and depletion of the epithelial barrier. Starting on day 4, mesenteric lymph node and/or spleen presented with lower levels of Treg, Th and Tcyt cells, suggesting an immune cell tropism to the gut.CONCLUSIONThese results demonstrate that the severity of experimental colitis is dependent on DSS concentration, correlated with clinical, proteomic, histological and cellular immune response on 3% DSS.

Allogeneic blood or marrow transplantation (BMT) is a potentially curative therapy for patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID). Safe and effective reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) approaches that are associated with low toxicity, use alternative donors, and afford good immune reconstitution are needed to advance the field. Twenty PID patients, ranging in age from 4 to 58 years, were treated on a prospective clinical trial of a novel, radiation-free and serotherapy-free RIC, T-cell-replete BMT approach using pentostatin, low-dose cyclophosphamide, and busulfan for conditioning with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide-based graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. This was a high-risk cohort with a median hematopoietic cell transplantation comorbidity index of 3. With median follow-up of survivors of 1.9 years, 1-year overall survival was 90% and grade III to IV acute GVHD-free, graft-failure-free survival was 80% at day +180. Graft failure incidence was 10%. Split chimerism was frequently observed at early post-BMT timepoints, with a lower percentage of donor T cells, which gradually increased by day +60. The cumulative incidences of grade II to IV and grade III to IV acute GVHD (aGVHD) were 15% and 5%, respectively. All aGVHD was steroid responsive. No patients developed chronic GVHD. Few significant organ toxicities were observed. Evidence of phenotype reversal was observed for all engrafted patients, even those with significantly mixed chimerism (n = 2) or with unknown underlying genetic defect (n = 3). All 6 patients with pre-BMT malignancies or lymphoproliferative disorders remain in remission. Most patients have discontinued immunoglobulin replacement. All survivors are off immunosuppression for GVHD prophylaxis or treatment. This novel RIC BMT approach for patients with PID has yielded promising results, even for high-risk patients. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy.

The oxidative stress is a pathomechanism underlying the pathophysiology of colitis and MSC play an important role in preventing the impairment of antioxidants defenses in inflamed colon.

Post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy) reduces the incidence and severity of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), thereby improving the safety and accessibility of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). We have shown that PTCy works by inducing functional impairment and suppression of alloreactive T cells. We also have identified that reduced proliferation of alloreactive CD4+ T cells at day +7 and preferential recovery of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) at day +21 are potential biomarkers associated with optimal PTCy dosing and timing in our B6C3F1→B6D2F1 MHC-haploidentical murine HCT model. To understand whether the effects of PTCy are unique and also to understand better the biology of GVHD prevention by PTCy, here we tested the relative impact of cyclophosphamide compared with five other optimally dosed chemotherapeutics (methotrexate, bendamustine, paclitaxel, vincristine, and cytarabine) that vary in mechanisms of action and drug resistance. Only cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and cytarabine were effective in preventing fatal GVHD, but cyclophosphamide was superior in ameliorating both clinical and histopathological GVHD. Flow cytometric analyses of blood and spleens revealed that these three chemotherapeutics were distinct in constraining conventional T-cell numerical recovery and facilitating preferential Treg recovery at day +21. However, cyclophosphamide was unique in consistently reducing proliferation and expression of the activation marker CD25 by alloreactive CD4+Foxp3- conventional T cells at day +7. Furthermore, cyclophosphamide restrained the differentiation of alloreactive CD4+Foxp3- conventional T cells at both days +7 and +21, whereas methotrexate and cytarabine only restrained differentiation at day +7. No chemotherapeutic selectively eliminated alloreactive T cells. These data suggest that constrained alloreactive CD4+Foxp3- conventional T-cell numerical recovery and associated preferential CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg reconstitution at day +21 may be potential biomarkers of effective GVHD prevention. Additionally, these results reveal that PTCy uniquely restrains alloreactive CD4+Foxp3- conventional T-cell proliferation and differentiation, which may explain the superior effects of PTCy in preventing GVHD. Further study is needed to determine whether these findings also hold true in clinical HCT.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic intestinal disorders characterized by dysregulated immune responses to resident microbiota in genetically susceptible hosts. The activation of the cholinergic system has been proposed for the treatment of IBD patients according to its potential anti-inflammatory effect in vivo. The α-7-nicotinic-acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) is involved in the inhibition of inflammatory processes, modulating the production of cytokines, suppressing dendritic cells and macrophage activity, leading to the suppression of T cells. In this review, we address the most recent studies and clinical trials concerning cholinergic signaling and its therapeutic potential for inflammatory bowel diseases.