Reduction of graft-versus-host disease by histone deacetylase inhibitor suberonylanilide hydroxamic acid is associated with modulation of inflammatory cytokine milieu and involves inhibition of STAT1.

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors reduce development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Administration of the HDAC inhibitor suberonylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) resulted in a significantly reduced GVHD-dependent mortality following fully major histocompatibility complex-mismatched allogeneic BMT. However, SAHA treatment did not affect T-cell activation or T-cell expansion in vitro and in vivo.