Role of Regulatory T Cells in Tumor-Bearing Mice Treated with Allo-Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Plus Thymus Transplantation

Abstract EN

We recently developed a new allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation method (allo-HSCT) combined with thymus transplantation (TT) from the same donor (allo-HSCT + TT).

This method induces elevated T cell function with mild graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in comparison to conventional HSCT alone and HSCT + donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI).

This new method is effective against several intractable diseases, including malignant tumors, for which conventional treatments are ineffective.

Regulatory T (Treg) cells play an important role in the enhanced graft-versus-tumor (GVT) effect and reduction of GVHD, thus leading to longer survival.

Replacement and reduction of elevated Treg cells by donor-derived allo-Treg cells from the transplanted thymus may play one of crucial roles in the effect.

This review discusses the role of Treg cells in a tumor-bearing mouse model treated with allo-HSCT + TT.