Histological assessment of the sclerotic graft-versus-host response in the humanized RAG2-/-γc-/- mouse model.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a frequently occurring and difficult-to-treat complication in human allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Murine transplantation models are often used to study and understand the complex pathogenesis of GVHD and to explore new treatment strategies. Although GVHD kinetics may differ in murine and human models, adequate models are essential for identification of the crucial factors responsible for the major pathology in GVHD. We present a detailed description of the specific histological features of a graft-versus-host-induced fibrotic response in xenogeneic RAG2(-/-)γc(-/-) mice after total body irradiation and injection with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We describe the full morphological features of this reaction, including a detailed analysis of the specific tissue infiltration patterns of the human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Our data show the development of fibrosis, predominantly near blood vessels, and reveal different cell populations and specific cell migration patterns in the affected organs. The combination of immunohistochemical cell characterization and mRNA expression analysis of both human (donor)- and murine (host)-derived cytokines reveals an interaction between host tissues and donor-derived cells in an entangled cytokine profile, in which both donor- and host-derived cytokines contribute to the formation of fibrosis.

Modifying Graft-versus-Host Disease in a Humanized Mouse Model by Targeting Macrophages or B-Cells.

Humanized mouse models can well be modified to study specific aspects of Graft-versus-Host Disease (GvHD). This paper shows the results of both macrophage depletion and (early) B-cell depletion in a humanized mouse model using RAG2-/- γc-/- mice injected with HuPBMCs. Macrophage depletion showed a significant decrease in survival and also lead to a change in the histomorphology of the xenogeneic reaction. Higher levels of infiltrating B-cells were observed in various organs of mice depleted for macrophages. With (early) B-cell depletion using Rituximab, a clear improvement on clinical symptoms was observed, even when probably only inactivated B-cells were deleted. However, the histological examinations only showed a significant morphological effect on liver fibrosis. This may be related to a difference in the mRNA levels of TGF-ß. Also, lower mRNA levels of Tregs in some organs were observed after Rituximab treatment, which contradicts that a higher number of Tregs would always be related to less severe GvHD. Our data show that both macrophage depletion and (early) B-cell depletion in a xenogeneic mouse model can influence the clinical, histological, and cytokine production of a GvHD response.