CTLA-4 polymorphisms and clinical outcome after allogeneic stem cell transplantation from HLA-identical sibling donors

Blood. 2007 Jul 1;110(1):461-7. doi: 10.1182/blood-2007-01-069781. Epub 2007 Mar 23.

Abstract

CTLA-4 is an inhibitory molecule that down-regulates T-cell activation. Although polymorphisms at CTLA-4 have been correlated with autoimmune diseases their association with clinical outcome after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) has yet to be explored. A total of 5 CTLA-4 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped on 536 HLA-identical sibling donors of allo-HSC transplants. Genotypes were tested for an association with patients' posttransplantation outcomes. The effect of the polymorphisms on cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) mRNA and protein production were determined in 60 healthy control participants. We observed a reduction in the mRNA expression of the soluble CTLA-4 isoform in the presence of a G allele at CT60 and +49. Patients receiving stem cells from a donor with at least 1 G allele in position CT60 had worse overall survival (56.2% vs 69.8% at 5 years; P = .001; hazard ratio [HR], 3.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.75-8.22), due to a higher risk of relapse (P = .049; HR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.00-2.93). Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) was more frequent in patients receiving CT60 AA stem cells (P = .033; HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.03-2.29). This is the first study to report an association between polymorphisms at CTLA-4 and clinical outcome after allo-HSCT. The CT60 genotype influences relapse and aGVHD, probably due to its action on CTLA-4 alternative splicing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antigens, CD / genetics*
  • Antigens, Differentiation / genetics*
  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Graft vs Host Disease / etiology
  • HLA Antigens / immunology*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / mortality
  • Histocompatibility / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Siblings
  • Survival Rate
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • CTLA4 protein, human
  • HLA Antigens