Post-HSCT reconstitution of natural killer cells and its clinical significance

Natural killer(NK) cell is one of cytotoxic lymphocytes of the innate immune defense system and the first lymphocyte recovered after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT).NK cells can recognize and lyse virally infected or malignant cells directly, and they also perform as an important link between innate and adaptive immune system.Post-HSCT reconstitution of NK cells is strongly associated with microbial infection, GVHD and/or relapse.Here, we review advances in NK cell recovery after allo-HSCT in recent years and its clinical significance.