Evaluation of interleukin 12 and CD56 + lymphocyte cells in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for early diagnosis of acute graft versus host disease

•Development of acute GVHD coincided with the increased frequency of CD56 + cells in children receiving HSCT.•Post-transplant CD56 + lymphocytes and pre-transplant serum levels of IL-12 play significant roles in the induction of and protection against GVHD, respectively.•The increase in the percentage of CD69 + cells indicates the activation of lymphocyte in acute GVHD group.

The present study tried to explain CD56 + lymphocyte cells activities and possible prognostic role of these cells in Graft-Versus-Host-Disease (GVHD). The role of IL-12 activation and function is of interest in this study. Peripheral blood samples of 51 Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) recipients collected at before (day − 8) and after (days 7 and 14). PBMC were collected by Ficoll separation and analyzed by Flow Cytometry using triple antibody (CD45-PerCP, CD56-FITC, and CD69-PE staining and control antibody. Levels of the cytokine IL-12 in the patient's serum were evaluated by ELISA. Percentage of CD56 + lymphocytes (CD56 +bright) cells was significantly increased at day 14 in patients with acute GVHD and percentage of lymphocytes expressing CD69 was significantly increased at days 7 and 14 posts HSCT in patients with acute GVHD in comparison to those in non-GVHD patients. Baseline serum IL-12 levels (pre-HSCT, day − 8) were significantly higher in those HSCT recipients who did not develop GVHD. This study showed that post-transplant CD56 + lymphocytes and pre-transplant serum levels of IL-12 play significant roles in the induction of and protection against GVHD, respectively. The increase in the percentage of CD69 + cells indicates the activation of lymphocyte in acute GVHD group.