Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD) and Cryoimmunology

Summary

GVHD is a major, sometimes lethal, complication of bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Its development is closely related to the activities of the T lymphocytes of the donor. Many methods have been developed for its prevention and treatment, though none is wholly satisfactory. Ultra-low temperatures influence the activities of the lymphocytes. It has been reported that the development of GVHD could be inhibited if the donor’s cells were pretreated at ultra-low temperatures. The correlationship between GVHD in the mouse and cryoimmunological phenomena was studied in our laboratory.