Synergistic immune interactions between T cells and natural killer cells in allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukaemia: current status and future directions

作者：Nan Wang, Hanxue Zheng, Zhengdong Hao, Pingling Yin, Liansheng Zhang, Lijuan Li · 发表于：Annals of Medicine · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1080/07853890.2025.2601404 · 被引用次数：1 · 研究领域：Immune Cell Function and Interaction、Acute Myeloid Leukemia Research、Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

BACKGROUND: Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a highly heterogeneous haematologic malignancy. Current therapeutic strategies include chemotherapy, targeted therapy and haematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and autologous haematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HSCT). The graft-versus-leukaemia (GVL) effect and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in allo-HSCT remain major research foci, with emerging evidence highlighting the synergistic roles of T cells and natural killer (NK) cells in allo-HSCT immunity. This review systematically integrates the cooperative immunological interactions between T cells and NK cells and elucidates their critical significance in post-transplant immunotherapy. METHODS: This review systematically summarizes the cytotoxic mechanisms, immune reconstitution processes and related immunotherapeutic approaches involving T cells and NK cells in AML in the context of allo-HSCT and further elucidates their unique role in post-transplant immune regulation from the perspective of coordinated T-cell and NK-cell interactions. RESULTS: T cells and NK cells exert synergistic effects in post-transplant immune reconstitution, GVL responses, GVHD regulation and subsequent immunotherapeutic interventions. Early NK-cell reconstitution provides a critical window for the restoration of T-cell function, whereas cytokines derived from T cells, such as IL-2 and IL-15, further enhance NK-cell activity. This dynamic immunological interplay not only shapes the balance...