Treatment with cyclosporine Al a prototypic immunosuppressive drug, fo
llowing autologous bone marrow transplantation (autoBMT) induces autol
ogous graft-versus-host disease (autoGvHD), similar to acute GvHD afte
r allogeneic BMT. The development of autoGvHD appeals to be associated
with the emergence of autoreactive T cells recognizing self MHC class
II antigens, and the elimination of a T-cell-dependent peripheral aut
oregulatory mechanism. The induction of autoGvHD may be of benefit to
the autoBMT patients by providing the graft-versus-tumor effect. (C) 1
997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.