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Purpose: Recently, high numbers of regulatory T cells within the stem cell graft were described to be associated with less graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after related peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). Studies in mice also suggest a distinct role of gyTCR + T cells in mediating GVHD. Therefore, the aim of this study was to define the yet-unknown role of regulatory and gyTCR + Tcells in human PBSCT from unrelated donors. Experimental Design: The frequency of bothT-cell subsets within the graft was analyzed in 63 patients receiving unrelated allogeneic PBSCT. The respective amounts were quantified by flow cytometry and PCR and further correlated with clinical outcome. + cells had a lower cumulative incidence of acute GVHD II-IV (44% versus 65%, P = 0.03). Interestingly, in patients who received higher concentrations of donor gyTCR + Tcells, acute GVHD II-IV was more frequent (66% versus 40%, P = 0.02). In multivariate analysis, only the graft concentration of gyTCR + Tcells (P = 0.002) and a positive cytomegalovirus status of the recipient (P = 0.03) were significantly associated with the occurrence of acute GVHD II-IV. Conclusion: Graft composition of T-cell subsets seems to affect the outcome of patients receiving allogeneic PBSCT from unrelated donors. Therefore, selective manipulation or add-back of particular subsets might be a promising strategy to reduce the incidence of GVHD.

The presence of peritoneal fluid in PD patients has a negligible influence on measurements of FO by BIS. The BIS measurements can be therefore conveniently and reliably done without emptying the peritoneal cavity; this may facilitate the use of BIS in this particular group of patients.

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