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The macrophage activation marker sCD163 in acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease after pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 58, pages 587–589 (2023)Cite this article

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The pathogenesis of both acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is thought to involve an interplay between adaptive and innate immune mechanisms. In acute GvHD (aGvHD), conditioning-induced damage of epithelial surfaces and subsequent translocation of bacterial endotoxins may lead to activation of antigen presenting cells such as macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) in the induction of a T-cell mediated cytotoxic attack to recipient tissues [1]. Furthermore, more recent studies have characterized the phenotype of infiltrating macrophages in patients with aGvHD, highlighting a role of donor-derived macrophages also in the effector phase as mediators of tissue damage [2].

In cGvHD, a pathogenic role of early tissue injury and the related inflammation has also been proposed primarily based on experimental studies, suggesting that early Toll-like receptor mediated inflammation and activation of endothelial cells is central for the dysregulation of both lymphocytes and macrophages ultimately resulting in propagation of pro-fibrotic pathways [3]. Overall, these studies point to the importance of defining a potential clinical role of biomarkers reflecting macrophage activation in patients with GvHD.

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Fig. 1: Soluble CD163 and graft-versus-host disease.

Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by The Danish Cancer Society (R228-A13611).

Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Laura Louise Fosgrau Hergel, Katrine Kielsen.

  2. These authors jointly supervised this work: Henning Grønbæk, Klaus Müller.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Laura Louise Fosgrau Hergel, Sarah Weischendorff, Marianne Ifversen & Klaus Müller

  2. Institute for Inflammation Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Laura Louise Fosgrau Hergel, Katrine Kielsen, Sarah Weischendorff, Nakisa Kamari-Kany & Klaus Müller

  3. Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Katrine Kielsen

  4. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aarhus University Hospital, Clinical Institute Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

    Holger Jon Møller

  5. Department of Pediatrics, Aarhus University Hospital, and Clinical Institute, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

    Søren Rittig

  6. Department of Hepatology & Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, and Clinical Institute Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

    Henning Grønbæk

  7. Institute for Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Klaus Müller

Authors
  1. Laura Louise Fosgrau Hergel
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Contributions

KM and HG conceived and designed the study. LLFH, KK, SW, SR, NG and MI collected the patient samples and clinical data. HJM and HG measured the plasma levels of macrophage activation markers. LLFH, KK and KM analyzed the data and drafted the manuscript. All authors revised the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katrine Kielsen.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Hergel, L.L.F., Kielsen, K., Weischendorff, S. et al. The macrophage activation marker sCD163 in acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease after pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 58, 587–589 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-023-01927-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-023-01927-3

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