Monocytes are an essential cellular component of the innate immune system that support the 33 host's effectiveness to combat a range of infectious pathogens. Hemopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) 34 results in transient monocyte depletion, but the factors that regulate recovery of monocyte populations 35 are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated whether the composition of the gastrointestinal 36 microbiota is associated with the recovery of monocyte homeostasis after HCT. 37 38 Methods:
39We performed a single-center, prospective, pilot study of 18 recipients of either autologous or 40 allogeneic HCT. Serial blood and stool samples were collected from each patient during their HCT 41 hospitalization. Analysis of the gut microbiota was done using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and flow 42 cytometric analysis was used to characterize the phenotypic composition of monocyte populations.
4344 Results:
45Dynamic fluctuations in monocyte reconstitution occurred after HCT and large differences were 46 observed in monocyte frequency among patients over time. Recovery of absolute monocyte counts and 47 monocyte subsets showed significant variability across the heterogeneous transplant types and 48 conditioning intensities; no relationship to the microbiota composition was observed in this small 49 cohort.
51 Conclusion:
52A relationship between the microbiota composition and monocyte homeostasis could not be 53 firmly established in this pilot study.3 54 55 cell transplantation (HCT) is a potentially curative procedure for patients with 81 hematologic malignancies but its success has been limited by the morbidity and mortality of post-82 transplant infections and relapse. Impaired immune reconstitution post-HCT increases the risk of both of 83 these complications [1][2][3][4]. Multiple factors influence the vulnerability of patients to these complications 84 including: time since transplantation, graft source (i.e., autologous (auto-HCT) or allogeneic (allo-HCT)), 85 and persisting myelosuppression (humoral and cell-mediated) post-HCT [2, 3]. Alterations in the 86 microbiome have been associated with clinical outcomes of patients who have undergone HCT, 87 including their survival. However, the mechanisms by which the gut microbiota exerts its effects, both 88 beneficial and detrimental, have not been fully elucidated [5, 6].
89In humans there are three main circulating monocyte subsets with diverse functions, classified 90 based on their expression of CD14 and CD16 surface proteins and cytokine production. These monocyte 91 subsets are named "classical", "intermediate", and "non-classical monocytes" [7-9] and typically 92 comprise 85%, 10%, and 5% respectively of the circulating monocyte pool in a healthy individual under 93 homeostatic conditions [10, 11]. Classical monocytes specialize in phagocytosis and produce the 94 cytokine IL-10 [12], while intermediate monocytes have elevated surface expression of MHC class II, 95 suggesting they have an important role in antigen presentation [13]. In contrast, non-c...