Open AccessSequential measurement of the murine acute‐phase protein serum amyloid P component (SAP) as an indicator of graft‐ versus ‐host disease following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in mice
Author(s) -
BAYSTON K. F.,
HUBY R.,
COHEN J.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1990.tb03340.x
Subject(s) - medicine , bone marrow , pathogenesis , graft versus host disease , transplantation , immunology , serum amyloid p component , in vivo , pathology , biology , inflammation , c reactive protein , microbiology and biotechnology
SUMMARY Murine models of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) are used commonly for studies of the pathogenesis and treatment of graft‐ versus ‐host disease (GVHD). We report here that the sequential measurement of the mouse acute‐phase protein SAP can be used to provide a sensitive, quantitative index of the severity of GVHD. Thirty mice underwent allogeneic, and a further 30 syngeneic BMT. GVHD w as assessed in vivo by clinical appearances and weight change, and post mortem by histology and calculation of splenic indices. Blood was obtained twice/week for SAP measurement and blood culture. In all mice an initial rise in SAP levels due to irradiation was followed by a return to baseline. Thereafter in syngeneic marrow recipients levels remained low. In contrast, after allogeneic BMT SAP levels rose progressively as mice developed GVHD, reaching a peak of 135 μg ml prior to death, from a nadir at day 20 of 15 μg ml. Mice with high splenic indices and histological evidence of severe GVHD had significantly higher SAP levels than mice with mild GVHD ( P= 0.002). Elevation in SAP levels occurred independently of bacteraemia. We conclude that in murine BMT sequential measurement of SAP provides an objective means of assessing GVHD in tiro .