T-helper-1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokines after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT)

Dysregulation of T-helper (Th)1 (IFN-g, IL-2, TNF-a) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10) type cytokines has been suggested in the pathogenesis of graft versus host disease (GvHD). We analyzed intracellular cytokine expression in Th (CD4+) lymphocytes in 23 patients undergoing allo-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) both in the week of neutrophil engraftment (S1) and on the posttransplant 100th day (S2). CD4+TNF-a+ cells increased from 22% at S1 to 26% at S2 in the allo-peripheral blood (PB) group. CD4+IL-2+ cells at S1 in the bone marrow (BM) group had a tendency to be higher than in the allo-PB group and also higher than at S2. IL-2 and TNF-a expressions at S1 were significantly higher and IL-2 expression at S2 was significantly lower in patients with grade II-IV acute GvHD compared with grade 0-I GvHD. IFN-g expression tended to be higher at S2 in the chronic GvHD group compared with the patient without GvHD. Consequently, the data in this study support the role of Th1 cytokines in GvHD.