Are stem cells attacked in graft-versus-host disease?

The article presents information on related to attack on the stem cells in Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The author and colleagues and had noted a predilection for the rete ridge in GVHD, so in response to their paper, they tested this region as a target for GVHD. They suggested that some property of this region, perhaps the presence of stem cells or their early progeny, serves as a target for GVHD. Now other researchers have demonstrated that the parafollicular bulge of the hair follicle is the true site of stem cells within the hair follicle in mouse, providing not only the cells for the follicle in general, but the cells for the previous candidate site, the hair bulb. It is hoped that by studying specific cytolytic T cell markers and measures of proliferation in the early post-transplant period that some objective criteria may be found for the early diagnosis of GVHD.