The Pathophysiology of Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease

The pathophysiology of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a complex process that can be conceptualized in three phases. In the first phase, high-dose chemoradiotherapy causes damage to host tissues, including a self-limited burst of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin 1. These cytokines activate host antigen-presenting cells (APCs). In the second phase, donor T-cells recognize alloantigens on host APCs. These activated T-cells then proliferate, differentiate into effector cells, and secrete cytokines, particularly interferon (IFN)-γ. In the third phase, target cells undergo apoptosis mediated by cellular effectors (eg, donor cytotoxic T-lymphocytes) and inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α. TNF-α secretion is amplified by stimuli such as endotoxin that leaks across damaged gastrointestinal mucosa injured by the chemoradiotherapy in the first phase. TNF-α and IFN-γ cause further injury to gastrointestinal epithelium, causing more endotoxin leakage and establishing a positive inflammatory feedback loop. These events are examined in detail in the following review.