New approach identified for preventing transplant rejection

A subset of cells - named TH17 cells - can prove effective in uncovering the mechanisms resulting in graft-versus-host disease when it comes to improving treatment results without the side effects of traditional immunosuppressive therapy, as per researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. The results of this study appeared in the Feb. 5, 2009, issue of Blood, the journal of the American Society of Hematology.

It is considered that findings of this study would help in charting a course for improved therapies capable of treating and preventing graft-versus-host disease.

From News-Medical.Net:

The UNC study has identified a subset of cells – named TH17 cells – that can bring about the condition. Until now, without a clear understanding of the disease, clinicians have had little choice but to treat transplant patients with toxic regimens of steroids and immunosuppressive drugs.
"Our hope is that uncovering the mechanisms that cause graft-versus-host disease will allow for treatments that specifically target its causes and do not have the harmful side effects of traditional immunosuppressive therapy," said study lead author Jonathan S. Serody, M.D., a member of the Lineberger Center and the Elizabeth Thomas Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology at UNC. The results of the study appeared in the Feb. 5, 2009, issue of Blood, the journal of the American Society of Hematology.
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a serious complication of transplants that occurs when the donor's marrow (graft) produces immune cells that attack multiple organs of the recipient (host), typically the skin, gastrointestinal tract and liver.

It was remarked by lead author of the study Jonathan S. Serody, M.D., a member of the Lineberger Center and the Elizabeth Thomas Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology at UNC, that new drugs will appear in the market in the next five years for treating immune-based skin diseases.