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Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Lack of IFN-gamma 2/2 homozygous genotype independently of recipient age and intensity of conditioning regimen influences the risk of aGVHD manifestation after HLA-matched sibling haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 34, pages 339–344 (2004)Cite this article

Summary:

A total of 110 patients (71 adults and 39 children) who received allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation from HLA-matched sibling donors were studied for the incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) in relation to IFN-gamma gene microsatellite polymorphism. A strong tendency was observed towards the lower incidence of grades II–IV aGvHD in patients having an IFN-gamma 2/2 genotype as compared to the recipients with other IFN-gamma genotypes (0.12 vs 0.33, P=0.06). This relationship was independent of the intensity of conditioning regimen and diagnosis. IFN-gamma polymorphic features, together with other clinical and biological factors (patient's age, donor–recipient gender, diagnosis, conditioning regimen, transplant material and GvHD prophylaxis), were subjected to multivariate analysis for aGvHD manifestation in order to exclude indirect association of the IFN-gamma 2/2 genotype. In multivariate analysis, myeloablative therapy (OR=11.462, P=0.013), recipient age (OR=4.896, P=0.009) and lack of IFN-gamma 2/2 genotype (OR=4.311, P=0.048) were found to significantly contribute to the development of grade II–IV aGvHD, while type of GvHD prophylaxis showed less-strong influence (OR=2.963, P=0.066). Thus, it appeared that the IFN-gamma 2/2 genotype constituted an independent and protective factor associated with a decreased risk of grade II–IV aGvHD. However, this genotype was not found to be associated with the risk of cGvHD or survival.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the Polish State Committee for Scientific Research (KBN; No. 6 P05B 056 20).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. L Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland

    A Mlynarczewska, B Wysoczanska, K Bogunia-Kubik & A Lange

  2. Lower Silesian Center for Cellular Transplantation & National Polish Bone Marrow Donor Registry, Wroclaw, Poland

    L Karabon & A Lange

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  1. A Mlynarczewska
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  2. B Wysoczanska
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Correspondence to A Lange.

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Mlynarczewska, A., Wysoczanska, B., Karabon, L. et al. Lack of IFN-gamma 2/2 homozygous genotype independently of recipient age and intensity of conditioning regimen influences the risk of aGVHD manifestation after HLA-matched sibling haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 34, 339–344 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1704581

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