The gvhd Hub website uses a third-party service provided by Google that dynamically translates web content. Translations are machine generated, so may not be an exact or complete translation, and the gvhd Hub cannot guarantee the accuracy of translated content. The gvhd and its employees will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or consequential damages (even if foreseeable) resulting from use of the Google Translate feature. For further support with Google Translate, visit Google Translate Help.
The GvHD Hub is an independent medical education platform, sponsored by Medac and supported through grants from Sanofi and Therakos. The funders are allowed no direct influence on our content. The levels of sponsorship listed are reflective of the amount of funding given. View funders.
Now you can support HCPs in making informed decisions for their patients
Your contribution helps us continuously deliver expertly curated content to HCPs worldwide. You will also have the opportunity to make a content suggestion for consideration and receive updates on the impact contributions are making to our content.
Find out moreCreate an account and access these new features:
Bookmark content to read later
Select your specific areas of interest
View gvhd content recommended for you
Perturbed microbiota has been associated with the establishment and progression of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Furthermore, GvHD severity has been associated with broad-spectrum antibiotic use following HSCT, and reinstatement of healthy gut microbiota is being investigated as a therapeutic approach for treating GvHD.1 These findings are undisputed, but there remain areas of uncertainty.
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate are almost exclusively produced by the gut bacteria and have long been suspected to play a role in GvHD pathogenesis. Preclinical models have shown that butyrate supports intestinal epithelia and alters immune populations in the gastrointestinal tract. Mathilde Payen and colleagues aimed to determine whether changes in the microbiome composition with subsequent reduction of SCFAs contribute towards acute GvHD (aGvHD) onset, while a team led by Kate A. Markey focused on the potential protective role of SCFA from chronic GvHD (cGvHD) progression.1,2
Table 1. Baseline characteristics of study participants1
Patient characteristic
|
aGvHD (n = 35) |
Control (n = 35) |
Total (N = 70) |
aGvHD, acute graft-versus-host disease; HLA, human leukocyte antigen |
|||
Mean age, years (range) |
49.2 (16.4–69.0) |
46.7 (18.2–68.9) |
47.9 (16.4–69.0) |
Male gender, n |
22 |
19 |
41 |
Transplant characteristics, % |
|
||
Myeloablative conditioning |
22.8 |
45.7 |
34.3 |
Total body irradiation |
20.0 |
25.7 |
22.9 |
Steam cell source, % |
|||
Peripheral blood |
77.1 |
74.3 |
75.7 |
Bone marrow |
14.3 |
20.0 |
17.2 |
Cord blood |
8.6 |
5.7 |
7.1 |
HLA match, % |
|||
Identical sibling |
31.4 |
48.6 |
40.0 |
Matched unrelated |
45.7 |
17.1 |
31.4 |
Mismatched unrelated |
20.0 |
34.3 |
27.2 |
Mismatched relative |
2.9 |
0.0 |
1.4 |
Dead at 1 year, % |
45.7 |
25.7 |
35.7 |
aGvHD cause of death, % |
68.8 |
0.0 |
44.0 |
Table 2. Microbiome signatures of severe aGvHD1
Depleted genera |
P* |
SCFA production |
aGvHD, acute graft-versus-host disease; SCFA, short-chain fatty acids *vs control patients † Do not contribute, or contribute negatively, to SCFA production |
||
Lachnospiraceae family Lachnoclostridium Blautia Sellimonas Anaerostipes |
0.019 0.020 0.014 0.015 |
acetate, propionate, butyrate acetate acetate, butyrate † |
Ruminococcaceae family Faecalibacterium UBA1819 Flavonifractor |
0.011 0.012 |
propionate, butyrate acetate, propionate, butyrate |
Erysipelotrichaceae family Erysipelatoclostridium |
0.002 |
acetate |
Streptococcaceae Lactococcus |
0.005 |
† |
Enriched genera |
|
|
Prevotella 9 |
0.004 |
† |
Stenotrophomonas |
0.009 |
† |
Table 3. Metabolic signatures of aGvHD vs controls1
Severe aGvHD vs control |
Decrease, % |
P |
aGvHD, acute graft-versus-host disease; SCFAs, short-chain fatty acids |
||
SCFAs |
80.6 |
0.0003 |
Acetate |
75.8 |
0.002 |
Butyrate |
94.6 |
0.001 |
Propionate |
95.8 |
0.0009 |
Mild aGvHD vs control |
Decrease, % |
P |
SCFAs |
N/A |
< 0.05 |
Butyrate |
86.0 |
0.021 |
Propionate |
N/A |
< 0.05 |
Table 4. Disease characterization2
Characteristic |
Patients (n = 54; cGvHD, n = 45; control, n = 9) |
cGvHD, chronic graft-versus-host disease *% of patients with cGvHD |
|
Disease classification, % cGvHD -Mild* -Moderate* -Severe* Late onset cGvHD Overlap syndrome |
42.5 53.7 16.6 14.8 14.8 42.5 |
Median time to cGvHD onset, days (range) |
184 (55–451) |
Data from these two studies suggest that depleted levels of certain microbe derived SCFAs are associated with both aGvHD establishment and cGvHD progression. These findings may help to refine novel microbiome restoration treatments, such as fecal transplantation, or SCFA supplementation to reduce the incidence of GvHD amongst patients receiving HSCT.
References
Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements:
The content was clear and easy to understand
The content addressed the learning objectives
The content was relevant to my practice
I will change my clinical practice as a result of this content