GVHD
Published on February 10, 2025
Using DMF to inhibit Tfh differentiation in the treatment of cGVHD
by Nature
Lyu F, Gong H, Wu X, et al. Dimethyl Fumarate Ameliorates Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease by Inhibiting Tfh Differentiation via Nrf2. Leukemia. 2024; (doi: 10.1038/s41375-024-02475-5).
Researchers have learned that dimethyl fumarate (DMF), already known to suppress acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) without undermining graft-versus-leukemia effect, also has therapeutic promise against chronic GVHD (cGVHD). From observations in mice models, investigators determined that the anti-inflammatory medication works against cGVHD development by discouraging follicular helper T cell (Tfh) differentiation. It accomplishes this by activating Nrf2, which in turn leads to downregulation of IL-21 transcription. In different murine models, suppression of Tfh differentiation curbed the severity of disease. Tests using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from active cGVHD patients upheld the potential for treating post-allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients with DMF, which reduced IL-21 production and Tfh cell generation.
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