Allogenic C57b/6-> B6d2f1 Transplantation As A Model For Graft Versus Host Disease In The Brain

Bone marrow transplants are a common and reliable treatment for many disorders; however, in roughly 50% of patients, graft versus host disease (GvHD) occurs, causing significant morbidity and mortality. GvHD is an immune mediated disorder in which donor T cells recognize host antigens as foreign, causing donor T cells to proliferate and attack healthy host tissue. Though the pathogenesis of GvHD in organs such as the skin and colon has been well-documented, little is known about the effects of GvHD on the brain. Some clinical case studies have associated extensive neurological issues with onset of GvHD, with symptoms such as seizures, cognitive dysfunction, and cerebellar impairment including hemiparesis. Yet research involving the brain in GvHD lags behind research in other tissues. Our lab, working with a MHCII mismatched GvHD murine model, has studied GvHD in the brain in an effort to better understand the neurological effects of GvHD.