Use of cytokines and mitogens to inhibit graft versus host disease

Patent Number: 7,381,563

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has saved hundreds of thousands of lives of patients with hematopoietic malignancies or some metabolic disorders.  Hematopoietic stem cell transplant involves administration of CD34 cells or unpurified mononuclear cells from either donor bone marrow, cord blood, or mobilized peripheral blood.  Since the "graft" in this type of transplant can contain T cell contamination, and since the cells are administered into a recipient with a depleted immune system, often times T cells from the donor start attacking the host.  This process is called Graft Versus Host and is one of the main causes of hematopoietic stem cell transplant associated morbidity and mortality.

This patent covers a "kit" that is useful for the treatment of Graft Versus Host.  Essentially the kit comprises of interleukin-2 and TGF-b used at concentrations to induce immunological tolerance in the donor T cells.  While these approaches are interesting, one of the concerns has always been that if you reduce Graft Versus Host, you may also reduce Graft Versus Leukemia.

View this patent on the USPTO website.