Complementary and contrasting roles of NK cells and T cells in pediatric umbilical cord blood transplantation.

UCBT has been used for almost 25 years to treat a variety of malignant and nonmalignant childhood diseases. The biological properties of NK cells and T cells and their implication in engraftment, immune reconstitution, OIs, leukemic relapse, and GvHD have been explored in the context of UCBT. These studies have established that lymphocytes have a major impact on the outcome of UCBT and that NK cells and T cells play complementary and contrasting roles in immune reconstitution and the GvL effect. Therefore, novel strategies to improve the outcome of UCBT recipients, including immunotherapeutic regimens, should be based on key immunologic features of UCB T lymphocytes and NK cells.