Key Points• Chronic graft-versus-host disease is associated with a global Breg defect.• This defect is particularly accentuated in the CD24 hi CD27 1 Breg compartment.Interleukin 10 (IL-10)-producing B cells (regulatory B cells [Bregs]) regulate autoimmunity in mice and humans, and a regulatory role of IL-10-producing plasma cells has been described in mice. Dysfunction of B cells that maintain homeostasis may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Here, we found a relation between decreased Breg frequencies and cGVHD severity. An impaired ability of B cells to produce IL-10, possibly linked to poor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation, was found in patients with active cGVHD. IL-10 production was not confined to a single B-cell subset, but enriched in both the CD24 hi CD27 1 and CD27 hi CD38 hi plasmablast B-cell compartments. In vitro plasmablast differentiation increased the frequency of IL-10-producing B cells. We confirmed that allogeneic transplant recipients had an impaired reconstitution of the memory B-cell pool. cGVHD patients had less CD24 hi CD27 1 B cells and IL-10-producing CD24 hi CD27 1 B cells. Patients with cGVHD had increased plasmablast frequencies but decreased IL-10-producing plasmablasts. These results suggest a role of CD24 hi CD27 1 B-cell and plasmablast-derived IL-10 in the regulation of human cGVHD. (Blood. 2015;125(11):1830-1839 IntroductionChronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is the leading cause of morbi-mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT). 1 GVHD prevention by means of adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells (Tregs) 2,3 and cGVHD treatment by in vivo induction of Tregs by low-dose interleukin 2 (IL-2) 4,5 may be effective. The exact role of IL-10-producing regulatory B cells (Bregs) in cGVHD is yet to be understood. Bregs have been shown to downmodulate adaptive 6 or innate immune responses 7 in mice and humans. In cGVHD, B cells are essentially recognized as positive regulators of inflammation. 1,8,9 Increased B-cell receptor responsiveness was found in cGVHD patients. 10 B-cell homeostatic defects were described in cGVHD, including elevated B-cell activating factor of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family (BAFF)/B-cell ratios, 11-15 expansion of CD21 lo B cells, 16 reduced CD5 1 B1-like cell numbers, 17 decreased CD27 1 memory B cells, and hypogammaglobulinemia. 18 BAFF concentrations correlated with increased circulating pre-germinal center (GC) B-cell and post-GC plasmablast cell counts in patients with cGVHD. 11 B-cell depletion with rituximab prevented cGVHD in humans. 19 Patients with cGVHD frequently have circulating antibodies reactive to recipient cells. 1,9,20 Besides their functions in antibody secretion, cytokine and chemokine production, and antigen presentation, B cells exhibit regulatory properties in several human autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythemat...

Response rate and overall survival after Eculizumab in our cohort compare favorably with previously published data in TMA after allogeneic HSCT. Prospective trials are warranted to confirm these results. Early initiation of Eculizumab may have a favorable effect on long-term renal function and further contribute to the prolongation of survival.

In patients referred for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), iron overload is frequent and associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Both the evolution of iron overload after transplantation and its correlation with late posttransplantation events are unknown. We studied 290 patients undergoing myeloablative allogeneic HSCT between 2000 and 2009. Serum ferritin, transferrin saturation, transferrin, iron, and soluble transferrin receptor were determined regularly between 1 and 60 months after HSCT, and values were correlated with transplantation outcome. Ferritin levels peaked in the first 3 months posttransplantation and then decreased to normal values at 5 years. Transferrin saturation and iron behaved analogously, whereas transferrin and soluble transferrin receptor increased after an early nadir. Landmark survival analysis showed that hyperferritinemia had a detrimental effect on survival in all periods analyzed (0 to 6 months P < .001; 6 to 12 months P < .001; 1 to 2 years P = .02; 2 to 5 years P = .002). This effect was independent of red blood cell transfusion dependency and graft-versus-host disease. Similar trends were seen for other iron parameters. These data show the natural dynamics of iron parameters in the setting of allogeneic HSCT and provide evidence for a prognostic role of iron overload extending beyond the immediate posttransplantation period. Interventions to reduce excessive body iron might therefore be beneficial both before and after HSCT.