Evidence that erythrocyte DARC-positive phenotype can affect the GVHD occurrence after HLA-identical sibling HSCT

Chemokine receptors are very important players in the pathogenesis of GVHD. The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that the lack of expression of the DARC receptor on erythrocytes can affect the GVHD incidence. A total of 105 recipients and their 105 respective sibling donors of HSCs were enrolled in this study. All patients were evaluated for acute and chronic GVHD. The DARC genotyping assay was performed using the SSP-PCR method. The case–control analyses showed that the donor DARC 146G allele and T− 46G146 haplotype, coding for the FY2 version of DARC, are very significant in the GVHD paradigm because they are associated with the incidence of acute effects of this outcome in recipients (p = 0.007, χ² = 7.200). It seems that this version of DARC receptor is a powerful facilitator of chemokine transcytosis and subsequently leukocyte migration into GVHD target organs.

► DARC as inflammation regulator in GVHD. ► Donor/Recipient DARC genotyping with SSP-PCR. ► Donor DARC phenotype affect acute GVHD incidence. ► DARC may facilitate leukocytes migration into GVHD target organs.