The present invention provides a novel use and methods comprising antibodies, or
antigen-binding fragments thereof, which bind to a CCR7
receptor for use as a novel therapeutic agent in prevention and / or treatment of
graft versus host disease (GVHD), preferably in
hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), more preferably allogeneic
hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. GVHD of the invention can be acute (aGVHD) and / or chronic (cGVHD), preferably acute. The antibodies and
antigen-binding fragments are capable of selectively depleting
ex vivo or
in vitro immune cells expressing CCR7 and are capable
in vivo of selectively killing immune cells expressing a CCR7
receptor and of impairing / blocking migration and of activation of said immune cells, which are involved in the development and evolution of GVHD. The use of said antibodies for depleting, killing and impairing / blocking migration and activation of immune cells expressing CCR7 cells is disclosed, thus providing an
alternative therapy for preventing and treating GVHD in both acute and chronic types.