Raising the spectra of T-cell profiling

摘要

The use and efficacy of allogeneic hemato-poietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has heen severely hampered by the occurrence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), in which donor T cells attack the genetically disparate host. Separating the T cells that mediate GVHD from those that produce beneficial graft-versus-tumor (GVT) effects and/or provide resistance to opportunistic infections has remained the Holy Grail of allogeneic HSCT. In this issue of Blood, Friedman et al suggest that a new era may be coming wherebv T-cell receptor (TCR) profiling using spectra-typing would allow for analysis of different T-cell populations in the donor that can ultimately respond to host minor histocompatibil-ity antigens (miHA) and mediate GVHD. Spectratyping may allow for better donor selection as well as a means to identify and then remove deleterious T-cell populations from donor grafts