Immunology of HSCT

The immunology of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) involves replacing a damaged or diseased blood system with healthy stem cells from a donor. The main immune challenge is preventing the recipient’s immune system from rejecting the donor cells and controlling the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), where donor immune cells attack the recipient’s tissues. To reduce these risks, doctors carefully match donor and recipient immune markers and may use medications to suppress immune reactions. Successful HSCT restores healthy blood production and immune function, but requires balancing immune suppression to prevent rejection and infection while minimizing complications.