As HLA haploidentical related donors are quickly available, HLA
haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haploHSCT) using high-dose
post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) is now widely used. Recent basic and
clinical studies revealed the details of immune reconstitution after T-cell replete
haploHSCT using PTCy. T cells and NK cells in the graft proliferate abundantly at day 3
post-haploHSCT, and the PTCy eliminates these proliferating cells. After ablation of
proliferating mature cells, donor-derived NK cell reconstitution occurs after the second
week; however, recovering NK cells remain functionally impaired for at least several
months after haploHSCT. PTCy depletes proliferating cells, resulting in the preferential
accumulation of Treg and CD4+ T cells, especially the memory stem T cell
(T
SCM
) phenotype. T
SCM
capable of both
self-renewal and differentiation into effector T cells may play an important role in the
first month of immune reconstitution. Subsequently,
de novo
T cells
progressively recover but their levels remain well below those of donor CD4+ T cells at
the first year after haploHSCT. The phenotype of recovering T cells after HSCT is
predominantly effector memory, whereas B cells are predominantly phenotypically naive
throughout the first year after haploHSCT. B cell recovery depends on
de
novo
generation and they are not detected until week 4 after haploHSCT. At week
5, recovering B cells mostly exhibit an unconventional transitional cell phenotype and the
cell subset undergoes maturation. Recent advances in immune reconstitution have improved
our understanding of the relationship between haploHSCT with PTCy and the clinical
outcome.