Project description:Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is critical complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The immunosuppressants given to patients undergoing allogeneic HSCT disturb the microbiome and the host immune system, potentially leading to dysbiosis and inflammation. The intestinal microbiome is a target for the development of novel therapies for GvHD. We determined the effect of the combination of tacrolimus (FK506) and Lactobacillus acidophilus on GvHD.
Project description:Microbial transformation of bile acids affects intestinal immune homeostasis but its impact on inflammatory pathologies remains largely unknown. Using a mouse model of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), we found that T cell-driven inflammation decreased the abundance of microbiome-encoded bile salt hydrolase (BSH) genes and reduced the levels of unconjugated and microbe-derived bile acids. Several microbe-derived bile acids attenuated farnesoid X receptor (FXR) activation, suggesting that loss of these metabolites during inflammation may increase FXR activity and exacerbate the course of disease. Indeed, mortality increased with pharmacological activation of FXR and decreased with its genetic ablation in donor T cells during mouse GVHD. Furthermore, patients with GVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation showed similar loss of BSH and the associated reduction in unconjugated and microbe-derived bile acids. Additionally, the FXR antagonist ursodeoxycholic acid reduced the proliferation of human T cells and was associated with a lower risk of GVHD-related mortality in patients. We propose that dysbiosis and loss of microbe-derived bile acids during inflammation may be an important mechanism to amplify T cell-mediated diseases.
Project description:RATIONALE: Beclomethasone may be an effective treatment for graft-versus-host disease.
PURPOSE: Phase I/II trial to study the effectiveness of beclomethasone in treating patients who have graft-versus-host disease of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, or colon.
Project description:Microbial transformation of bile acids (BAs) affects intestinal immune homeostasis but the impact of changes in BA metabolism on T cell-driven pathologies remains largely unknown. Using a mouse model of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), we found that GVHD decreased the abundance of microbiome-encoded bile salt hydrolase (BSH) genes and reduced the levels of microbiota-dependent unconjugated and secondary BAs (SBAs). Several SBAs attenuated farnesoid X receptor (FXR) activity, posing that loss of SBAs may increase FXR activation and exacerbate inflammation. Mortality in GVHD mice increased with pharmacological activation of FXR and decreased with its genetic ablation in donor T cells. Furthermore, patients with GVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation showed similar loss of BSH and the associated reduction in unconjugated and SBAs. Moreover, the FXR antagonist ursodeoxycholic acid reduced the activation of human T cells and was associated with a reduced risk of GVHD-related mortality in patients. We propose that dysbiosis and loss of SBAs may be an important mechanism to amplify T cell-mediated diseases.
Project description:This phase II trial studies how well cyclophosphamide works in preventing chronic graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplant in patients with hematological malignancies. Giving chemotherapy and total-body irradiation before transplantation helps stop the growth of cancer cells and prevents the patient’s immune system from rejecting the donor’s stem cells. Healthy stem cells from a donor that are infused into the patient help the patient’s bone marrow make blood cells; red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Sometimes, however, the transplanted donor cells can cause an immune response against the body’s normal cells, which is called graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Giving cyclophosphamide after transplant may prevent this from happening or may make chronic GVHD less severe.
Project description:The oral cavity is an easily accessible environment that allows for protective interventions aiming at modulating the immune response to control disease processes driven by a breakdown of host- microbe homeostasis. Periodontal disease (PD) is a prevalent condition in which quantitative and qualitative changes of the oral microbiota (dysbiosis) trigger non-resolving chronic inflammation, progressive bone loss and ultimately tooth loss. Here, we demonstrate the therapeutic benefit of local sustained delivery of the myeloid-recruiting chemokine CCL2 in murine ligature-induced PD using clinically relevant models as a preventive, interventional or reparative therapy. Local delivery of CCL2 into the periodontium inhibited bone loss and accelerated bone gain that could be ascribed to reduced osteoclasts numbers. CCL2 treatment upregulated M2-macrophage and downregulated pro-inflammatory and pro-osteoclastic markers. Furthermore, single cell RNA sequencing indicated that CCL2 therapy reversed disease-associated transcriptomic profiles of murine gingival macrophages via inhibiting TREM-1 signaling in classically activated macrophages and inducing PKA signaling in infiltrating macrophages. Finally, 16S rRNA sequencing showed mitigation of microbial dysbiosis in the periodontium that correlated with a reduction in microbial load in CCL2- treated mice. This study reveals a novel protective effect of CCL2 local delivery in PD as a model for chronic inflammatory diseases caused by a disturbance in host-microbe homeostasis.
Project description:To assess the preclinical utility and functional mechanism of intraperitoneal anti-CX3CL1 mAb therapy in the skin and lung fibrosis, sclerodermatous chronic graft-versus-host disease (Scl-cGVHD) model mice were analyzed by RNA-sequencing assays.
Project description:Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation remains the most efficacious treatment for many hematological malignancies. However, its therapeutic potential is affected by the most prominent side effect graft versus host disease. Despite advances in the treatment of graft versus host disease in recent years, morbidity and mortality remains high, which requires the development of new treatment approaches. We therefore implemented mouse models to assess potential treatment options for graft versus host disease. In in vivo experiments, we had observed a protective effect of LCN2 on graft versus host disease of the gastrointestinal tract. We also observed higher numbers of anti-inflammatory macrophages in the intestinal tissues of these animals. Therefore, we aimed to determine potentially regulated genes in these cells by using an in vitro approach of LCN2-treated macrophages.
