A successful haploidentical bone marrow transplantation method in rabbits: Perfusion method plus intra-bone marrow–bone marrow transplantation

Graft versus host disease (GVHD), rejection, delayed immune reconstitution and infections have been significant hurdles to haploidentical BMT. In order to improve the outcome of the current haploidentical-related BMT, we performed a novel BMT method consisting of the perfusion method (PM) plus intra-bone marrow–bone marrow transplantation (IBM-BMT) in a rabbit model. The percentages of T cells in BMCs harvested by the PM and the conventional aspiration method (AM) were 6% and 14%, respectively (p < 0.01). Conversely, the CFU-C counts of BMCs in the PM group were significantly higher than those in the AM group. When the BMCs were transplanted into lethally irradiated offspring rabbits by IBM-BMT, hemopoietic recovery in the PM group was faster than in the AM group. The cumulative incidence of acute GVHD was 25% in the PM group versus 75% in the AM group (p < 0.05). In addition, the survival rate was 75% in the PM group versus 33% in the AM group (p < 0.05). Thus, the new method is able to provide rapid hemopoiesis, reduce the cumulative incidence of acute GVHD, and achieve a higher survival rate. This novel strategy paves the way for new dimensions in haploidentical BMT.