Introduction:

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) constitute a heterogeneous group of acquired clonal hematological disorders that affect the stem cell. These are characterized morphologically and clinically by: ineffective hematopoiesis, progressive peripheral cytopenia, dysplasia in one or more cell lineages, in most of cases and evolutionary tendency to acute leukemia. Recent advances in understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms of MDS have revealed the association between immunological alterations and recurrent mutations. Cells of the innate and adaptive immune response, as well as various soluble mediators released by them, can establish a protective antitumor response or, on the contrary, induce events of chronic inflammation that favor the promotion and progression of this disease.

Objective:

To summarize the current knowledge of the immune system-MDS relationship, emphasizing the immune cells of the bone marrow microenvironment and their importance in the clinic of the disease.

Methods:

A bibliographic-documentary research was carried out on the subject. The Scielo and Pubmed databases were consulted.

Conclusions:

Understanding the dual role of the immune system in MDS constitutes a challenge and rigorous clinical studies are necessary to establish the value of manipulating the immune system as a possible form of treatment of this disease.

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