title: Immune Reconstitution after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.
abstract: The timely reconstitution and regain of function of a donor-derived immune system is of utmost importance for the recovery and long-term survival of patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Of note, new developments such as umbilical cord blood or haploidentical grafts were associated with prolonged immunodeficiency due to delayed immune reconstitution, raising the need for better understanding and enhancing the process of immune reconstitution and finding strategies to further optimize these transplant procedures. Immune reconstitution post-HSCT occurs in several phases, innate immunity being the first to regain function. The slow T cell reconstitution is regarded as primarily responsible for deleterious infections with latent viruses or fungi, occurrence of graft-versus-host disease, and relapse. Here we aim to summarize the major steps of the adaptive immune reconstitution and will discuss the importance of immune balance in patients after HSCT.
authors.affiliation: Transplantation Biology, Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School , Hannover , Germany.
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ogonek
authors.affiliation: BMT, Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna , Vienna , Austria.
authors.forename: Mateja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kralj Juric
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Regensburg , Regensburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Sakhila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghimire
authors.affiliation: Transplantation Biology, Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School , Hannover , Germany.
authors.forename: Pavankumar Reddy
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Varanasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Regensburg , Regensburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Holler
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Medical University of Graz , Graz , Austria.
authors.forename: Hildegard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Greinix
authors.affiliation: Transplantation Biology, Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School , Hannover , Germany.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weissinger
keywords: graft-versus-host disease; graft-versus-leukemia effect; hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; immune reconstitution; infection