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Immune reconstitution: an important component of a successful allogeneic transplantation

K Paloczi1

  • 1Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, National Institute of Haematology and Immunology, P.O. Box 424, H-1519, Budapest, Hungary. k.paloczi@ohvi.hu

Immunology Letters
|November 7, 2000
PubMed

The recipients of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplants are characterised by an immunodeficiency of varying severity and duration. Their immunocompromised state is due in part to: (1) an impaired recapitulation of lymphoid ontogeny, (2) a lack of sustained transfer of donor immunity, (3) the effects of graft versus host disease and its therapy, and (4) a reduction in thymic function. Recipients can have delays in the production of naive T lymphocytes following transplantation which result in defects in the production of new antigen specific T lymphocytes and an inability to produce antibodies, especially to carbohydrate antigens. T-cell proliferation as well as immunoglobulin production remains impaired usually until the second half of the first year post-transplant. Other factors that can influence immunological reconstitution include the donor-recipient relationship (histocompatible or matched unrelated donor), intervening infections and recipient age, among others.

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