title: NKT cells, Treg, and their interactions in bone marrow transplantation.
abstract: Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a potentially curative treatment for patients with leukemia and lymphoma. Tumor eradication is promoted by the anti-tumor activity of donor T cells contained in the transplant; however, donor T cells also mediate the serious side effect of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Separation of GVHD from graft anti-tumor activity is an important goal of research in improving transplant outcome. One approach is to take advantage of the immunomodulatory activity of regulatory NKT cells and CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg of host and/or donor origin. Both host and donor NKT cells and donor Treg are able to prevent GVHD in murine models. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of NKT cell- and Treg-mediated protection against GVHD in mice while maintaining graft anti-tumor activity. In addition, we also examine the interactions between NKT cells and Treg in the context of BMT, and integrate the data from murine experimental models with the observations made in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Holbrook E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Kohrt
authors.forename: Asha B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Pillai
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lowsky
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Strober
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D035843:Biomedical Research; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002450:Cell Communication; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D020350:Graft vs Tumor Effect / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit