Suicide gene therapy for control of graft-versus-host disease

In allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, donor lymphocytes contribute to the development of GVHD, but can also confer protection,through graft versus leukemia, facilitating engraftment, and providing antiviral immunity. Here, Chiara Bonini and Claudio Bordignon summarize how a suicide gene in the delayed infusion of donor lymphocytes may help separate the two effects of donor lymphocytes.