Expression of Interleukin-2 Receptors (IL-2R) and Intracellular Adhesion Molecules-1 (ICAM-1) after Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation

Background: There is no specific diagnostic laboratory test for diagnosis of acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) and sometimes it is a clinical diagnosis. Most investigators studying the relationship between IL-2 and aGVHD have obtained disappointing results. The expression and function of IL-2R and ICAM-1 are critical components in the initiation and elicitation of many T cell-mediated responses. This work was designed to investigate whether the observed phenotype pattern of IL-2R and ICAM-1 may be useful for early diagnosis of aGVHD, in patients undergoing allogeneic peripheral blood stem cells transplantation (PBSCT).Patients and Methods: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 25 patients who underwent allogeneic PBSCT, and 13 patients with autologous PBSCT and 10 normal donors as control group. The expression of IL-2R and ICAM-1 were analyzed by flowcytometry using monoclonal antibodies against CD25 and CD54.Results: There is statistically significant increase in the mean CD25 expression in patients with aGVHD (21.17111.48) than patients with autologous PBSCT (5.01±2.62) or control group (1.4±0.51). There was non significant difference (p 0.05) in the CD 25 expression in patients with aGVHD grade 1 (15.11+13.9) and patients with grade 2-4 (mean 23.3±5.49). There was significant increase (p 0.01) in the number of patients with positive CD25 expression with aGVHD grade 2-4 (3/3, 100%) than grade 1 (0%). The percentage of CD54 was statistically significant higher (p 0.05) in patients with allogeneic PBSCT (11.29±9.08) than in control group (1.34±0.47) and it was non significant with patients with autologous PBSCT (4.34±1.57). There was non significant difference in the CD 54 expression in patients with aGVHD grade I (9.116.8) and patients with grade 2-4 (mean 16.3112.2) (p 0.05). One patient 1/3 (33.3%) with positive expression of CD54 has aGVHD grade 1 and 2/3 (66.7%) have aGVHD grade 2-4 and this difference was statistically non significant (p 0.2).Conclusion: The increased level of CD25 in patients with allogeneic PBSCT is a useful marker for anticipating aGVHD and grade 2-4. CD54 is not a useful indicator for aGVHD or its grade.