Allogeneic haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) is the treatment of choice for many haemological malignancies and inherited disorders. When stem cells for transplantation come from a human leucocyte antigen matched unrelated donor, or from a partly mismatched related donor, exvivo T-cell depletion of the graft can prevent development of graft-versus-host disease, but lead in turn to a delay in immune reconstitution and a concordant increase in incidence of opportunistic infections and leukaemic relapses. We aimed to infuse T cells selectively depleted in allogeneic T cells that cause graft-versus-host disease using an ex-vivo procedure designed to eliminate alloactivated donor T cells, with an immunotoxin that reacts with a cell surface activation antigen, CD25.

We did a phase 1/2 study, in which 1–8 × 10⁵ allodepleted T cells/kg were infused between days 15 and 47 into 15 paediatric patients who had acquired or congenital haemopoietic disorders and who received HSCT on day 0. Occurrence of graft-versus-host disease and time to immune reconstitution were assessed. No treatment for graft-versus-host disease was given.

Less than 1% residual anti-host alloreactivity was recorded in 12 of 16 procedures. Other immune responses were preserved by the allodepletion procedure in 12 cases. No cases of severe (greater than grade II) graft-versus-host disease arose. Evidence for early T-cell expansion was shown in three patients with continuing viral infections. Specific antiviral responses, such as strong cytolytic activity, were noted.

Our results show that ex-vivo selective depletion of T cells that cause graft-versus-host disease is efficient and feasible, even in haploidentical settings.