Bc. Godthelp et al., T cell immune reconstitution after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in bare lymphocyte syndrome, HUMAN IMMUN, 61(9), 2000, pp. 898-907
To study the impact of an MHC class II-negative environment on T cell immun
e reconstitution, we have analyzed the phenotypical and functional characte
ristics of FACS-sorted cultured CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in two Bare Lymph
ocyte Syndrome (BLS) patients before and after allo-BMT. A similar analysis
was performed in two MHC class II expressing pediatric leukemia patients a
fter treatment with an allo-BMT who were included in our study as control.
It: was observed that CD4(+) T cells displayed cytolytic alloreactivity in
both BLS patients prior to and within the first year after allo-BMT, wherea
s such cells mere absent at a later rime-point, in the donors and pediatric
leukemia controls. In addition, reduced MWC class II expression was observ
ed in CD8(+) T cells of both recipients early after allo-BMT, irrespective
of the T cell chimerism pattern. Lack of endogenous MHC class II expression
in BLS patients, therefore, results in aberrant T cell selection within th
e first year after allo-BMT, analogous to T cell selection before transplan
tation. These T cell selection processes seem to be normalized at a later t
ime point after allo-BMT probably due to migration and integration of graft
-derived MHC class II-positive antigen presenting cells to sites of T cell
selection. Human Immunology 61, 898-907 (2000). (C) American Society for Hi
stocompatibility and Immunogenetics, 2000. Published by Elsevier Science In
c.