OBJECTIVETo study the role of T-bet [a T helper 1 (Th1) lymphocyte transcription factor] gene expression in predicting acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) and evaluate the correlation between T-bet gene and aGVHD.

METHODSTwenty patients who underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo. HSCT) entered this study. The expression of T-bet gene was examined with reverse transcription (RT)-PCR in bone marrow samples collected from patients on the day before conditioning, and day 0, day 14, day 28, and day 42 after HSCT.

RESULTSThe expression level of T-bet in patients developed aGVHD was increased compared with that before conditioning (P = 0.043). The incidence of aGVHD was 91.7% in patients whose T-bet expression level was increased on day 14 after transplant while was 12.5% in those whose T-bet gene expression level was not increased on that day (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONPatients with increased expression levels of T-bet after allo-HSCT may have an increased possibility to develop aGVHD. T-bet expression level may serve as an advisable guide to the clinician in predicting aGVHD and monitoring treatment.