Mouse Models of Antigen Presentation in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) is a curative therapy for hematopoietic malignancies. The therapeutic effect relies on donor T cells and NK cells to recognize and eliminate malignant cells, known as the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect. However, off target immune pathology, known as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a major complication of alloSCT that limits the broad application of this therapy. The presentation of recipient-origin alloantigen to donor T cells is the primary process initiating GVHD and GVL. Therefore, the understanding of spatial and temporal characteristics of alloantigen presentation is pivotal to attempts to separate beneficial GVL effects from detrimental GVHD. In this review, we discuss mouse models and the tools therein, that permit the quantification of alloantigen presentation after alloSCT.

Automated summary

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is an effective therapy for hematopoietic malignancies, relying on donor T cells and NK cells for the graft-versus-leukemia effect. However, graft-versus-host disease remains a major complication, highlighting the importance of understanding alloantigen presentation to separate beneficial effects from detrimental ones. Mouse models and tools play a key role in quantifying alloantigen presentation post-alloSCT.