Clinical Research Directory

Dendritic Cells in Patients With Acute or Chronic Skin Graft Versus Host Disease

Dendritic cells (DCs) serve as sentries for the immune system. DCs recognize foreign compounds (antigens) in the body, which they internalize and process. When DCs uptake foreign antigens, they migrate to secondary lymphoid organs, where the processed antigens are presented to T cells. Various DC subsets with unique cell lineages, surface protein markers, and tissue localization determinants have been identified. For example, Langerhans cells (LCs) and interstitial dendritic cells (intDCs) are DCs found in stratified epithelia, such as the skin. Though both are expressed in the skin, they differ with respect to their origin and surface protein content and can activate distinct types of immune responses. They may also have different specificities for the capture of antigens and presentation to circulating T cells. To date, it is unknown what role, if any, the different DC populations that reside or repopulate in the skin play in the development and progression of skin graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) following bone marrow transplant.

Prebiotic Galacto-oligosaccharide and Acute GVHD

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the carbohydrate prebiotic (dietary supplement) known as galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) can modulate the microbiome (the bacteria in the gut) and help prevent graft-versus host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic stem cell transplant. The study has two two parts. In phase 1, the best dose of GOS will be evaluated. In phase 2, using the best dose of GOS, participants will be randomized to receive GOS or a placebo (maltodextrin, a common food additive that is not known to affect the microbiome) so that the effect of GOS can be determined.