Polymorphism of the alpha4-subunit of VLA-4 integrin and bone marrow transplantation

Abstract

Integrin alpha4beta1 is an important homing molecule on stem cells. Two genetic variants of this integrin are known, alpha4-mas and alpha4-tex. We assessed the potential influence of this polymorphism in 37 patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. None of the constellations of variants influenced the outcome, as determined by the recovery of leukocytes or platelets, hospitalization time, and the development of graft-versus-host disease.