Immune reconstitution in recipients of photodepleted HLA-identical sibling donor stem cell transplantations: T cell subset frequencies predict outcome.

We evaluated an ex vivo photodepletion (PD) technique to selectively deplete graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) alloreacting T cells given to 24 human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical sibling stem cell transplantation (SCT) recipients. Donor lymphocytes were activated by 72-hour exposure to irradiated in vitro expanded recipient T lymphocytes and pulsed with a TH9402 photosensitizer. Alloactivated T cells preferentially retaining the photosensitizer were eliminated by light exposure.

New HLA-A, -B, and -C locus-specific primers for PCR amplification from cDNA: application in clinical immunology.

The individual cellular immune response to intracellular antigens is modeled by the highly polymorphic major histocompatibility complex (HLA) class I molecules. The epitopes presented and the T cell repertoire that recognizes them depend on the HLA constitution of the individual. Therefore, to monitor and to modify an individual's HLA class I-driven cellular immune response, it is necessary to know the HLA class I alleles of the person and the possible epitopes of the target antigen presented by those alleles.