Editorial
Copyright ©2013 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Hematol. May 6, 2013; 2(2): 13-15
Published online May 6, 2013. doi: 10.5315/wjh.v2.i2.13
Emerging immunological concepts in the pathogenesis of myelodysplastic syndromes
Claudio Fozza
Claudio Fozza, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Author contributions: Fozza C ideated and wrote the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Claudio Fozza, MD, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 12, 07100 Sassari, Italy. cfozza@uniss.it
Telephone: +39-79-228282 Fax: +39-79-228282
Received: January 15, 2013
Revised: February 9, 2013
Accepted: March 23, 2013
Published online: May 6, 2013
Processing time: 156 Days and 9.9 Hours
Abstract

The involvement of T-lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is now well documented by relevant clinical and experimental findings. This brief review will focus on the T-cell repertoire pattern typical of MDS patients as well as on the potential role exerted by specific T-cell subsets in this context. Future investigations should further explore the specific role played by different T-cell subsets in the bone marrow milieu typical of MDS, further clarifying which of the described changes represent either an epiphenomenon or rather a real causative factor in the pathogenesis of these disorders.

Keywords: Myelodysplastic syndromes; T-cells; T-cell receptor repertoire; Regulatory T cells; Immunotherapy

Core tip: T-lymphocytes are deeply involved in the pathogenesis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS); patients with MDS display a typical T-cell repertoire pattern; specific T-cell subsets, such as regulatory T-cells and Th17 T-cells, play a specific riole in in this context.