Low Numbers Of Cd27(-) Igd(-) 'Double Negative' Senescent B-Cells Early After Reduced Intensity T Cell Depleted Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Are Predictive Of Subsequent Chronic Gvhd

Chronic graft versus host disease (cGvHD) is an important complication of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). It is now believed that B cells play a major role in the development of cGvHD as evidenced by the efficacy of B-cell directed therapies, and the disturbances in B cell subsets found in patients. This is characterised by a relative lack of naive B cells and increase in CD27+ (antigen experienced) mature B cells that can mediate host directed responses. Despite this the cellular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of cGvHD remain unclear.