ABSTRACT
Allogeneic bone m arrow transplantation (B M T ) has developed into an im portant therapeutic approach for the treatm ent of hematologic disorders, and in particular several forms of leukemia.1 However, BM T is still hampered by the development of donor T cell-mediated graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).2"5 Although the approach of depleting T cells from the donor marrow inoculum has been successful in minimizing the incidence of GVHD, most clinical studies have also reported increased incidence of graft failure, opportunistic infection, and leukemic relapse.6 In this respect, it would be highly advantageous to be able to manipulate the donor marrow or subsequent T-cell infusions in such a way as to selectively deplete alloreactive T cells responsible for GVHD, while retaining T cells that could support engraftment and/or decrease the occurrence of infection and leukemic relapse.
