Murine Models of Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease: Insights and Unresolved Issues

Chronic graft-versus-host-disease (cGVHD) is a major barrier to successful allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), with highly variable clinical presentations. The pathophysiology of cGVHD remains relatively poorly understood. The utilization of murine models to study cGVHD encompasses experimental challenges distinct from those that have been successfully used to study acute GVHD (aGVHD). Nevertheless, despite these challenges, murine models of cGVHD have contributed to the understanding of cGVHD, and highlight its mechanistic complexity. In this article, insights into the pathophysiology of cGVHD obtained from murine studies are summarized in the context of their relevancy to clinical cGVHD. Despite experimental limitations, current and future models of murine cGVHD will continue to provide insights into the understanding of clinical cGVHD and provide information for new therapeutic interventions.