Revised: February 9, 2013
Accepted: March 23, 2013
Published online: May 6, 2013
Processing time: 156 Days and 9.9 Hours
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.
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.