Tregs in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Suppressing Graft-Versus-Host Disease While Preserving Graft-Versus-Leukemia Publisher Pubmed



Nekouei NK ; Najjari N ; Farajifard H ; Esmaeil N ; Naseroleslami M ; Sari S ; Behfar M ; Ghamari A ; Hamidieh AA
Source: Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Published:2026

Abstract

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is still a significant challenge for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, resulting in substantial non-relapse mortality. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for modulating immune responses and maintaining tolerance, resulting in a promising therapeutic approach for GVHD management. The purpose of this study is to explore the immunomodulatory effect of Tregs in preventing and managing GVHD without sacrificing the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect. Preclinical and clinical studies demonstrate that ex vivo-expanded Tregs, derived from donor peripheral blood or umbilical cord blood, effectively reduce GVHD incidence when infused prophylactically. Combination therapies, including Tregs with tacrolimus or invariant natural killer T cell activation via α-galactosylceramide, enhance Treg’s efficacy and reduce required cell doses. Improved Treg stability and in vivo expansion can be achieved through advanced strategies such as rapamycin-assisted expansion and orthogonal interleukin-2 (IL-2)/IL-2Rβ systems. These findings highlight Tregs’ potential to mitigate GVHD without compromising GVL, offering a biologically favorable alternative to traditional immunosuppression. Further randomized trials are needed to standardize protocols and confirm long-term efficacy in the face of challenges in Treg isolation, expansion, optimal dosing, and infusion timing, which will lead to improved transplant outcomes. © 2026 American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier, Inc.