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Pediatric Transplants

Stem cell source-dependent reconstitution of FOXP3+ T cells after pediatric SCT and the association with allo-reactive disease

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 48, pages 502–507 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

In adult patients, regulatory CD4+FOXP3+ T cells are suggested to have a role in the control of allo-reactive disease after hematopoietic SCT (HSCT). We compared CD4+FOXP3+ T-cell reconstitution after unrelated cord blood (UCB), matched unrelated donor (MUD) and matched sibling donor (MSD) HSCT in children, starting as early as 1 week after transplantation, and analyzed the association with allo-reactive disease. A total of 30 children were included who underwent a myeloablative-conditioning regimen followed by UCB (12/30), MUD (7/30) or MSD (11/30) HSCT. These three patient groups showed significant differences in FOXP3+ T-cell reconstitution pattern. Early after UCB and MSD, but not after MUD, HSCT a peak in FOXP3+ T cells was observed. There were significant differences in activation status and Ki67 expression of the FOXP3+ T cells after UCB and MSD, respectively. FOXP3+ T-cell proportions early after HSCT and in the graft were inversely correlated with allo-reactivity. This study indicates that FOXP3 reconstitution after HSCT is dependent on the type of graft used. Furthermore, in children evaluation of FOXP3+ T-cell numbers early after HSCT and in the graft may be used to judge the risk of developing allo-reactivity after HSCT.

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Acknowledgements

Ismé M de Kleer is supported by a Marie Curie International European Fellowships grant (IEF).

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Author notes

  1. L L Reubsaet, A P J de Pagter, J J Boelens and I M de Kleer: These authors contributed equally to this paper.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Molecular and Cellular Intervention (CMCI), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    L L Reubsaet, B J Prakken & I M de Kleer

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    A P J de Pagter & L Keukens

  3. Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    D van Baarle

  4. Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    D van Baarle, N Nanlohy, E A M Sanders & J J Boelens

  5. Department for Molecular Biomedical Research (DMBR)—VIB Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    I M de Kleer

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  1. L L Reubsaet
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Reubsaet, L., de Pagter, A., van Baarle, D. et al. Stem cell source-dependent reconstitution of FOXP3+ T cells after pediatric SCT and the association with allo-reactive disease. Bone Marrow Transplant 48, 502–507 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2012.174

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