Serum markers of graft-versus-host disease after bone marrow transplantation

Background: Graft-versus-host disease is one of the major complications after allogenic bone marrow transplantation, but it is not easy to anticipate the onset. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine clinically useful markers of acute graft-versus-host disease. Methods: We measured the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, soluble c-kit, soluble Fas, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, growth-related oncogene protein-alpha alpha, thrombomadurin, and interleukin-16 in 13 patients at 1 to 7 weeks after allogenic bone marrow transplantation. Results: The patients with acute graft-versus-host disease showed a significant increase of tumor necrosis factor, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, soluble Fas, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and growth-related oncogene protein-alpha, although there was a decrease of soluble c-kit. The increases of serum soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and growth-related oncogene protein-alpha were preceded by the elevation of soluble Fas. Conclusion: The patients with acute graft-versus-host disease had increased serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, soluble Fas, and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and a decreased soluble c-kit level. Tumor necrosis facter-alpha and soluble c-kit were shown to be sensitive and specific parameters for graft-versus-host disease after bone marrow transplantation, and soluble Fas mas shown to be a predictor of acute graft-versus-host disease after bone marrow transplantation.