Compositions and methods for preventing and treating graft versus host disease
ILC2 cells play a role in the pathogenesis of graft versus host disease (GvHD) and idiopathic pneumonia syndrome (IPS), both conditions associated with allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Infusion of IL-33 activated ILC2 cells into patients with ongoing GvHD or IPS, or prior to onset of GvHD or IPS in susceptible patients, substantially ameliorates the disease and improves survival.
1. A method for treating acute graft versus host disease (GvHD) in a subject, comprising:
providing a subject in need of treatment for acute GvHD; and
administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a cell preparation of IL-33 activated ILC2 cells.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ILC2 cells have the following properties:
positive for expression of lymphoid marker CD90;
positive for expression of lymphoid marker ICOS; and
negative for expression of lymphoid marker lin.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the ILC2 cells are positive for expression of CD127, ST2, Sca-1, CD25, CD90, and ICOS, and negative for expression of lin.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human subject receiving an allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT) or allogeneic bone marrow transplant (allo-BMT).
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cell preparation of IL-33 activated ILC2 cells is administered to the subject within 1 to 30 days after receiving the allo-SCT or allo-BMT.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the risk and/or severity of acute GVHD associated with allo-SCT or allo-BMT is reduced.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cell preparation of IL-33 activated ILC2 cells is administered as a co-infusion with the allo-SCT or allo-BMT.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein production of Th2 cytokines in the subject is increased, and/or production of Th1 and/or Th17 cytokines in the subject is decreased.