From leukocyte reduction to leukocyte transfusion: the immunological effects of transfused leukocytes

In transfusion medicine, mononuclear leukocytes have been studied more often as contaminants of red blood cells or platelets responsible for adverse transfusion outcomes than as therapeutic cells; leukocyte transfusion has been effective in augmenting recipient immunity only in limited clinical situations. Studies in leukocyte reduction and leukocyte transfusion have progressed separately as if the leukocytes' adverse and therapeutic effects result from different immunological mechanisms. With growing clinical experience, however, it is increasingly clear that some adverse immune effects may be exploited for therapeutic benefit. Advances in clinical immunology, understanding of the variety of cells and functions in the leukocyte fraction of blood, and blood component preparation technology may lead to new ways of deriving immunological benefit from transfused blood leukocytes while minimizing their adverse effects. This chapter reviews the current uses of leukocyte reduction and mononuclear leukocyte transfusion, with an emphasis on the relationship between transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease and donor lymphocyte infusion in controlling relapsed leukaemias.