[T-cell repertoire reconstitution after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: diversity and origin]

Following bone marrow transplantation, the T cell repertoire contains multiple abnormalities. Although such abnormalities might be expected during the first months post-graft, several patients still present repertoire alterations years after transplantation. In this context recent studies have confirmed in humans the importance of a post-natal thymic dependent pathway of T-cell regeneration. This pathway, whose importance may decrease with passing time, must be taken into account to understand the fate of the T cell repertoire post-transplantation. It may also have clinical implications: optimal graft material may be different for a child or an adult recipient.