The prognostic value of increased B7 superfamily proteins in acute graft-versus-host disease

On 6 February 2019, Biqi Zhou, Tanzhen Wang, and Lei Lei from The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China, and colleagues, published data from their retrospective study on the prognostic value of B7H1 and B7H3, co-inhibitory molecules of the B7 superfamily, in acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) in the International Journal of Hematology.

Patients and methods

The study group retrospectively analyzed 64 patients who underwent haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) in their hospital between 2013 and 2014. The researchers also conducted a control group of 38 HLA-matched patients undergoing transplantation. B7H1, B7H3, PD1, soluble CD25, ST2, and TNFR1 were analyzed at day 0, day 7, day 14, and day 28 post-transplant.

Key findings

• B7H1/B7H3 serum levels on day 7 and day 14 were significantly higher in patients with aGvHD who underwent haplo-HSCT
• B7H1/B7H3 serum levels on day 7 were predictive of grade III–IV aGvHD:
  • B7H1 AUC = 0.830, P < 0.001
  • B7H3 AUC = 0.775, P = 0.001
• ST2 serum levels on day 28 were higher in patients with aGvHD who underwent haplo-HSCT
• Haplo-HSCT patients with higher B7H1/B7H3 levels on day 7, or ST2 levels on day 28 had inferior GvHD-related mortality (GRM)
  • B7H1, P < 0.001
  • B7H3, P = 0.002
  • ST2, P = 0.047
• Predictive factors for GRM were B7H1 serum levels on day 7 (P = 0.041), viral infections (P = 0.015), and donor age (P = 0.012)

The authors concluded by stating that B7H1/B7H3 serum levels on day 7 can predict grade III–IV aGvHD. Day 7 B7H1 serum levels, as well as viral infections and donor age, were found to be independent predictive factors for GRM in patients undergoing haplo-HSCT.