Antiinflammatory may prevent GVHD after BMT

Lab mouse

New research suggests that an antiinflammatory agent, called ATL146e, may prevent graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) or stop progression.

“We hope that this study is the first step in the development and implementation of a new treatment for graft-versus-host disease,” said Courtney M. Lappas, PhD, from Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania, who was involved with the study.

The team used 2 genetically different strains of mice and performed bone marrow transplants that caused graft-versus-host disease. Some of the mice received ATL146e and others received a placebo.

Mice that were treated before GVHD developed experienced a less severe case with less tissue damage and increased survival. ATL146e also reversed the disease in mice that already had GVHD before taking the drug.

“This is important clinically because it could potentially minimize the risk associated with bone marrow transplantation, making these potentially curative transplants safer and more widely used in individuals with hereditary immunodeficiency diseases.”

According to the authors, the activation of the adenosine A_2AR with the selective agonist ATL146e inhibits the weight loss and mortality associated with disease progression. Circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines are reduced significantly by 14-days of ATL146e treatment.

The team hopes ATL146e may help cross a major barrier to broaden the use of bone marrow transplant to treat a wide array of diseases.

The article was published in the February 2010 print edition of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology.