The depletion of T cells from haematopoietic stem cell transplants

Abstract

Objective. In our laboratory, we have developed an immunorosette technique for the depletion of T cells from bone marrow transplants. Tetrameric complexes of monoclonal antibodies are able to form very stable immunorosettes, which are efficiently depleted with the aid of a blood cell separator. Major improvements over the original sheep red blood cell depletion are the use of human (patient or donor derived) erythrocytes instead of sheep-derived cells, and the possibility of using a closed system for separation in a cell separator. In contrast to bone marrow, mobilized haematopoietic stem cell transplants obtained after leucocytapheresis contain higher numbers of T cells. Therefore, a different approach is necessary.