Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation without irradiation

Long-term engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells into the bone marrow of a recipient depends on immunological compatibility between donor and host, or ablation of the host's immune system by irradiation. A 'universal recipient' mouse model now shows that mice that lack T, B and NK cells and bear mutations in the tyrosine kinase Kit accept any donor HSC without irradiation.