Figure 2.
Cd5k activity is critical for GVHD induction. Lethally irradiated B6D2F1 mice received HCT from either syngeneic B6D2F1 or allogeneic (B6) mice as described in supplemental Methods. Cdk5 kinase activity was significantly increased in the spleen and small intestine by day 10 after HCT (A). Allo-HCT using Cdk5−/−C (Allo Cdk5 ko) donors results in significant reduction in GVHD severity as measured by survival (B), clinical score (C), splenic T-cell expansion (D), serum IFNγ levels (E), and target organ histopathology (F) compared with recipients of Cdk5+/+C (Allo wt) donors. Data are from 2 to 3 comparable experiments: n = 3 to 4 mice per group (A), n = 12 to 24 mice per group (B-C), and 4 to 8 mice per group (D-F). *P < .01 for all comparisons.