title: The role of the immune system in myelodysplasia: implications for therapy.
abstract: Patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) have intrinsic, usually acquired genetic defects in their hematopoietic stem cells, but some others exhibit T-cell-mediated inhibition of hematopoiesis and good responses to immunosuppression. In these cases, MDS shares a similar pathophysiology with aplastic anemia (AA). Here, we review the evidence supporting a role of the immune system in the pathophysiology of MDS and the results of clinical trials of immunosuppressive agents.
authors.affiliation: National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, Hematology Branch, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. sloande@nih.gov
authors.forename: Elaine M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sloand
authors.forename: Katayoun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rezvani
mesh_terms: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014612:Vaccines; D016572:Cyclosporine