CURRENT RESEARCH ON THE IMMUNOMODULATORY EFFECT OF ALLOGENEIC BLOOD-TRANSFUSION

This review summarizes three aspects of current research on the immuno modulatory effect of allogeneic transfusion, Representatives of three laboratories each of which is actively engaged in research on transfus ion-induced immunomodulation - summarize their current investigative a pproach, First, current animal models of transfusion-induced immunomod ulation are presented and research on the tumor growth-promoting effec t of allogeneic transfusion is described. Second, mechanisms underlyin g an immunomodulatory effect of transfusion are summarized and experim ents on the induction of transplant tolerance by selective introductio n of donor-type MHC antigens is presented. Third, - the potential clin ical impact of increased infection and tumor recurrence resulting from transfusion-induced immunomodulation is assessed. The potential role of donor-derived hematopoietic stem cells is presented as an area of f uture investigation in the area of transfusion-induced immunomodulatio n.