¹First Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan

Correspondence: Dr R Amakawa, First Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University, 10-15 Fumizono-cho, Moriguchi, Osaka 570-8506, Japan. E-mail: amakawa@takii.kmu.ac.jp

Received 31 March 2003; Accepted 16 October 2003; Published online 5 April 2004.

Abstract

The recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) often develop acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), which is closely related to morbidity and mortality. However, the essential part of the immune responses elicited in aGVHD remains largely unknown. We attempt to determine if peripheral blood dendritic cells (PBDCs) are altered in aGVHD, and find that the number of PBDCs (both myeloid and lymphoid DCs) is significantly decreased. Immunohistochemical staining of the biopsied skin from patients with aGVHD demonstrates that a number of fascin⁺ cells with dendritic projections infiltrate the dermis of the skin. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that the PBDCs are recruited to the affected tissues and may thus play important roles in immune responses elicited in aGVHD.