title: Molecular monitoring of immune reconstitution after haploidentical stem cell transplantation.
abstract: Haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from a mismatched family member is an alternative treatment for transplant candidates who lack a HLA-matched related or an appropriate unrelated donor. One of main obstacles to successful haploidentical transplantation is slow immune reconstitution which significantly increases the risk of opportunistic infections, graft-vs-host-disease and disease relapse. Immune reconstitution is conventionally estimated by phenotypic recovery of immune cells according to lineage and/or by in vitro evidence of cell function. The limitations of these approaches include the sensitivity and specificity of phenotype markers, the availability of antibodies, the instability of long-term cell culture and the laborious nature of cell-function assays. Investigators have sought alternative approaches that are more sensitive, specific and simple, and that allow high-throughput testing for use in clinical transplantation. In this mini-review, we briefly introduce the concept of "molecular monitoring of immune-reconstitution" and discuss recent progress in this field achieved by our laboratory and other groups. We also propose future directions for clinical research incorporating these novel concepts.
authors.affiliation: Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Mail Stop 260, 332N Lauderdale St, Memphis TN 38105-2794, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaohua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Rupert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Handgretinger
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Hale
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D006238:Haploidy; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000276:immunology*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation