Immune reconstitution after allogeneic stem cell transplantation: the impact of stem cell source and graft-versus-host disease.

Abstract

Early immune recovery is enhanced following BSC allografting compared with BM allografting. This is plausibly explained by the large inoculum of mature lymphocytes in BSC allografts. Following allografting, a higher proportion of the BM progenitor cell compartment is involved in lymphopoiesis than it is in healthy adults. However, B-lymphopoiesis is inhibited in patients with extensive chronic GVHD resulting in impaired B-cell recovery. These patients also seem to show impaired NK-cell recovery.