[Roles of Cytokines in Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease]

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is the major complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), significantly limits the application of the therapy. Current evidence suggests that dysregulated cytokine production is responsible for many manifestations of aGVHD. The mechanisms have been most clearly delineated in mouse models, detailed analysis of human tissue is required. Monitoring serum levels of cytokine sIL-2R, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma after transplantation or cytokine gene expression before transplantation can predict prognossis of aGVHD. GVHD have graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect, and GVL can be seperated from GVHD. IL-2, IL-12, IL-11, KGF and G-CSF could possess the roles of reducing GVHD while preserving GVL.