Figure 4. Immunosuppressive therapies. Activated T cells, shown as enlarged, attack and destroy hematopoietic stem-cell targets. Some drugs inhibit lymphocyte function. Others are broadly lymphocytotoxic. Laboratory and animal data show that agents relatively selective for activated lymphocytes can induce tolerance by eliminating functionally active T-cell clones. Antithymocyte globulin, cyclosporine, and cyclophosphamide have been used to treat aplastic anemia, alone and in combination.

Return to article