A registry of HLA-typed donors for production of virus-specific CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes for adoptive reconstitution of immune-compromised patients.

Background: Virus-specific CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes from HLA-matched donors are effective for treatment and prophylaxis of viral infections in immune-compromised recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Adoptive immune reconstitution is based on selection of specific T cells or on generation of specific T-cell lines from the graft donor. Unfortunately, the graft donor is not always immune to the relevant pathogen or the graft donor may not be available (registry-derived or cord blood donors).

Miniaturized and high-throughput assays for analysis of T-cell immunity specific for opportunistic pathogens and HIV.

Monitoring of antigen-specific T-cell responses is valuable in numerous conditions that include infectious diseases, vaccinations, and opportunistic infections associated with acquired or congenital immune defects. A variety of assays that make use of peripheral lymphocytes to test activation markers, T-cell receptor expression, or functional responses are currently available. The last group of assays calls for large numbers of functional lymphocytes.

Processing of hematopoietic stem cells from peripheral blood before cryopreservation: use of a closed automated system.

Background: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is commonly used to treat several oncohematologic diseases. The autologous hematopoietic progenitor cells collected through apheresis (HPC-A) must be cryopreserved and stored before use in vivo. Cell processing that precedes cryopreservation of HPC-A includes volume reduction aimed at reducing the amount of dimethyl sulfoxide used, as well as storage space.

T(reg) cells: collection, processing, storage and clinical use.

T regulatory cells are fundamental in the maintenance of immune homeostasis and self-tolerance. Experimental models suggest the existence of two functional types of T(reg) cells designated naturally occurring and induced. Interest in T(reg) cells increased with evidence from experimental mouse and human models demonstrating that the immunosuppressive potential of these cells can be utilized in the treatment of various pathological conditions.

Positive immunomagnetic CD34(+) cell selection in haplo-identical transplants in beta-thalassemia patients: removal of platelets using an automated system.

Background Aims: Immunomagnetic CD34(+) cell selection (ICS) is utilized in autologous and allogeneic transplants. In the first case it is used to reduce the neoplastic contamination of concentrates, while in the second case it is needed to carry out a T-depletion of cell concentrates in order to reduce the incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) in patients who have undergone haplo-identical transplants.

Methods: The efficacy of CliniMACS technology, after reduction of platelet contamination, incubation of monoclonal antibodies (MAb) and successive washings of concentrates, performed in 16 ICS using the standard method without reducing platelet content, was compared with the use of the automated system CytoMate, which was carried out in 46 ICS.

Immunomagnetic selection of progenitor cells from peripheral blood after thawing with an automatic system in a pediatric patient with a neuroblastoma.

Background: Immunomagnetic selection of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) in patients with tumoral infiltration in marrow makes it possible to reduce contamination of cellular concentrates, but this procedure cannot always be used, mainly because of the low cellular count in apheresis concentrates.

Study Design And Methods: In this case two cellular concentrates taken separately at two different times were selected and cryopreserved; they were thawed with an automatic instrument.

Results: After manipulation, a selected concentrate containing 24.