AUTHOR=Koenecke Christian , Krueger Andreas 

TITLE=MicroRNA in T-Cell Development and T-Cell Mediated Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2018

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2018.00992

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2018.00992

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (GvHD) is still a major cause of treatment related mortality after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Allo-antigen recognition of donor T cells after transplantation account for the onset and persistence of this disease. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are molecular regulators involved in numerous processes during T-cell development, homeostasis and activation. Thus, miRNAs also contribute to pathological T-cell function during GvHD. Given their capacity of fine-tuning T-cell function miRNAs have emerged as promising therapeutic targets to curtail acute GvHD, but simultaneously maintain T-cell mediated Graft-versus-Tumor (GvT) effects. Here we review the role of key miRNAs contributing to the pathophysiology of GvHD. We focus on those miRNAs acting in T cells and for which a role in GvHD has been established in pre-clinical models. Finally, we provide an outlook for clinical application of this new therapeutic target for GvHD prevention and treatment.