Selective depletion of alloreactive T cells by targeted therapy of heat shock protein 90: a novel strategy for control of graft-versus-host disease.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Current treatment of GVHD relies on immunosuppressive regimens, considerably increasing the incidence of opportunistic infections. As T cells mediate both GVHD as well as protection against viral infections and the malignant disease, strategies to selectively target host-reactive T cells without impairing pathogen- and disease-specific immunity are highly warranted.