GVHD-associated immunodeficiency: Soil or seed?

摘要

In this issue of Blood, Markey and colleagues demonstrate that immunodeficiency associated with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is caused by functional impairment of dendritic cells. Graft-versus-host disease and infection are the major complications of allogeneic SCT, and their close relationship has been recognized. One of the primary characteristics of GVHD is a profound and long-lasting immunodeficiency that allows development of severe opportunistic infections, while the role of systemic immunosuppressive drugs used for prevention and treatment of GVHD is well appreciated.