Which type of white blood cells are involved in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)?

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) occurs when immune cells from a donor (the graft) attack the recipient's (the host's) tissues. This is predominantly mediated by lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell crucial for the immune response. In the context of GVHD, T lymphocytes, particularly the CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, play a significant role in recognizing the host's antigen as foreign, leading to the inflammatory response that characterizes this condition.

Lymphocytes, especially T cells, are involved in various immune processes and have the capacity to initiate an immune response against non-self cells, which is fundamental to the pathophysiology of GVHD. Their activation and subsequent proliferation upon encountering host tissues can lead to tissue damage and the clinical manifestations associated with the disease.

In contrast, while other types of white blood cells like neutrophils, monocytes, and eosinophils have their own roles in the immune system, they do not primarily initiate GVHD. Neutrophils respond to infection and inflammatory stimuli, monocytes are involved in phagocytosis and antigen presentation, and eosinophils primarily deal with parasitic infections and allergic reactions. Therefore, lymphocytes are specifically