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c‐Rel in GVHD biology: A missing link

Graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) is a major complication associated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Recent advances in the treatment of lymphoid malignancies with BMT include exploring mechanisms that can inhibit GVHD while maintaining graft‐versus‐leukemic (GVL) effects. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, Yu et al. [Eur. J. Immunol. 2013.43: 2327–2337] demonstrate efficient separation of GVHD and GVL by abrogating c‐Rel in T cells. Intrinsic c‐Rel deficiency in T cells resulted in complete protection against GVHD in both major and minor histocompatibility mismatched murine models of BMT. Protection against GVHD was associated with a decreased presence of Th1 and Th17 cells with a concomitant increase in Treg‐cell numbers. Interestingly, an intrinsic defect of c‐Rel also resulted in decreased expression of the Th1‐associated chemokine receptor CXCR3. Finally, the absence of c‐Rel maintained GVL effects with significant tumor clearance in murine recipients. These data suggest that specific targeting of the T‐cell‐specific transcription factor c‐Rel can inhibit GVHD while maintaining GVL effects.