Transplantation 2003; 75(9):46S-49S

Infusion of donor-derived hematopoietic stem cells in organ transplantation: clinical data

Luc De Pauw 1 3; Michel Toungouz 2; Michel Goldman 2

Many strategies for tolerance induction have been developed, because this is the major goal of clinical transplantation. One of the most effective and best-studied approaches has been based on the injection of hematopoietic cells derived from the donor bone marrow, to establish a state of microchimerism in the recipient. A subset of hematopoietic stem cells might be responsible for the tolerogenic properties. These CD34+ bone marrow stem cells can be isolated and safely injected into kidney transplant recipients. In the authors' clinical trial, no adverse effects were observed, and the infusion of donor CD34+ cells was well tolerated.

1 Nephrology Department, Hôpital Erasme, Brussels, Belgium.

2 Immunology Department, Hôpital Erasme, Brussels, Belgium.

3 Address correspondence to: Luc De Pauw, M.D., Hôpital Erasme, Route de Lennik 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium. E-mail: ludepauw@ulb.ac.be.

Transplantation 2003; 75(9):46S-49S
Copyright © 2003 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins