Role of Regulatory T Cells in Tumor-Bearing Mice Treated with Allo-Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Plus Thymus Transplantation

We recently developed a new allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation method (allo-HSCT) combined with thymus transplantation (TT) from the same donor (allo-HSCT + TT). This method induces elevated T cell function with mild graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in comparison to conventional HSCT alone and HSCT + donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI). This new method is effective against several intractable diseases, including malignant tumors, for which conventional treatments are ineffective. Regulatory T (T(reg)) cells play an important role in the enhanced graft-versus-tumor (GVT) effect and reduction of GVHD, thus leading to longer survival. Replacement and reduction of elevated T(reg) cells by donor-derived allo-T(reg) cells from the transplanted thymus may play one of crucial roles in the effect. This review discusses the role of T(reg) cells in a tumor-bearing mouse model treated with allo-HSCT + TT.