Haemopoietic Stem Cells: Transplantation Research

The first type of stem cell, an embryonic stem cell, is known for being able to continuously multiply, as well as for being pluripotent. They can be “derived in vitro from the blastocyst of an embryo usually left over from in vitro fertilization” (Forraz & McGuckin, 2011, p.61). Unlike other types of stem cells, embryonic stem cells have yet to be used in any kind of clinical treatment of patients. The high risks of “immune rejection” or “teratoma formation” are serious obstacles (Harris, 2009, p.182). The second type of stem cell, adult stem cells, is primarily considered to be multipotent and may be found in “specific adult human tissues” such as the skin or bone marrow, just to name a few. Over the last twenty years, the amount of scientific research and trials using adult stem cells has grown significantly, despite their lower potency than embryonic stem cells (Forraz & McGuckin, 2011, p.61). Lastly, cord blood stem cells, are technically considered to be a special type of adult stem cell, but their youthful properties give them “greater restorative and regenerative potential.” Directly following the birth of a child, these stem cells can be collected from the blood in the umbilical cord (Steenblock & Payne, 2006, p.9). Embryonic, adult, and cord blood stem cells

Additionally, an author provided an example of another therapy –the haploidentical transplantation that uses bone- marrow cells, which are only half-matched to a patient. However, Berger clearly gives readers to understand that using umbilical-cord stem cells is better because they have not been exposed much to bacteria and viruses. As an article says the transplant trial was done by Colleen Delaney of the Fred Hutchinson cancer Research Center. The author of the article states that Delaney’s clinical trial saved the lives of thirteen people, including Quinn and Gordon, out of fifteen participants. Therefore, using the stem cells from babies’ umbilical cords is a new solution for the blood cancer patients, especially those with different racial

Bone marrow transplants save a lot lives every year, a suitable donor is regrettably not always available. Since organs are routinely harvested from cadaveric organ donors, Scientists decided to assess such a possibility for bone marrow. They analyzed the functional properties and the phenotypic markers of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) from cadaveric bone marrow. Fresh bone marrow was capable of growing and developing in cell suspension for 2

Another health problem that treatment with embryonic stem cells can cause is tissue rejection. As is the case with current organ transplantation procedures, embryonic stem cells are harvested from many people all who possess a unique set of genes; therefore, the stem cells are not genetically matched for each patient (Herold 48-49). The difference in genetics causes the body to reject the tissue and the immune system begins to attack the transplanted tissue like it would a virus or bacteria in an attempt to remove the perceived threat. To avoid the implanted tissues being rejected by the body, doctors must prescribe immune suppression drugs that must be taken for the remainder of the patient’s life, even with these drugs the tissue may still be rejected and

Bone Marrow Transplant is when a surgeon removes a bone marrow stem cells and starts to replace the faulty parts of the genetic code with a new healthy

Hematopoietic stem cells are unspecialized cells that can develop into all types of blood cells, such as white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. These cells can be found in the peripheral blood, unbelicalcord and the bone marrow. There are four different types of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplants. They are autologous transplant, allogeneic transplant, myeloablative transplant, non-myeloablative transplant.

What causes this disease is, after the transplant is complete the cells, of the transplanted bone marrow or stem cell, start attacking the recipient’s body. GVHD has a wide range of how dangerous it can be to the patient’s life, it can range from mild, where it is easily treatable, to life threatening, where there is no stopping the donor cells from attacking the recipient’s body. A biopsy on an affected organ can determine diagnoses of GVHD grade from I (mildest) to IV (most severe). To prevent GVHD, a couple of days before the transplant multiple drugs are prescribed to the patient: cyclosporine and methotrexate, tacrolimus and methotrexate, tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil, or prograf and sirolimus. These drugs are to lower the immune system from attacking the donor’s cells. The outlooks of a patient after the transplant is determined on how severe GVHD is and how closely match the bone marrow tissue or cell was. There have been some cases where GVHD caused damage to the liver, lungs, digestive tract and other organs. However, if this does happen or the patient start developing symptoms of GVHD, there are treatments. But the treatments does not always guarantee that the transplant will treat the original disease that was meant for the bone marrow tissue or cell transplant.

In 1995, Timothy Ray Brown, more commonly known as the Berlin patient, was diagnosed with the HI Virus and like many patients, he began using HAART and expected a more normal life. However, in 2006 he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, which is treated in Europe with a stem cell transplant. In 2008, Mr. Brown agreed to a risky stem cell transplant, knowing that only %50 of patients survives. With the odds against him, he also agreed to a special treatment that would inject stem cells from a donor that had a natural immunity to the HI Virus, in an attempt to cure both the cancer and the virus at one time. Against all odds Mr. Brown survived the treatment, and both ailments were cured. Regardless of how extraordinary this cure was to find, it is not a broad case cure. The ability to match donor’s chromosomes for stem cell transplants is currently a daunting task; trying to find donors that contain the mutated gene that has a natural ability to resist the HI Virus would match less than .01% of the infected population. Although we have found this small victory, we must continue the search for a

Many pathological conditions can be treated through the use of allogeneic transplants. An allogeneic transplant is when cells, tissues, or organs from a donor are placed into a recipient that is genetically different. Because the donor and recipient are not identical, it is possible for the graft to reject, which when there is an immune response against the graft. It is also possible for a more serious complication to occur, known as Graft-versus-host disease. Graft-versus-host disease typically occurs in cases of bone marrow or stem cell transplants, but it can also occur in other cases as well. In this condition, immune cells in the grafted tissue recognize the host body cells as foreign, and attack them. Normally, immune cells do not attack their own body cells due to cell proteins called human leukocyte antigens (HLA). Every person has a different HLA pattern, which makes allogeneic transplants more difficult. For a transplant to be successful,

One drug, hydroxyurea, appears to decrease expression of the mutant beta globin gene even as it increases the expression of fetal hemoglobin genes, whose proteins can substitute for the hemoglobin beta chain. Beyond hydroxyurea, other treatments for SCA are still in the preliminary stage. One idea is to remove stem cells from the patient's bone marrow, insert healthy beta globin genes, and then transplant these genetically engineered cells back into the patient. Bone marrow transplants have met with occasional success; however, the procedure carries several major risks, especially graft versus host disease (GVHD). Also, finding compatible bone marrow donors in the African-American community is often

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the potential to differentiate and specialize themselves into specific cell types in the body. Different cell types perform different functions in the body and because of this differentiation is important. Cells need to specialize in order to perform distinct functions in the body. There are different types of stem cells that can be obtained from various sources. The stem cells can be allogenic or autogenous. Allogenic stem cells are obtained from sources within the same species, but from a different individual. Autogenic means that the cells are obtained from the own individual (Gabel et al., 2017). There are benefits and risks associated with each type of stem cell. Autogenous stem cells, since they are from the own individuals body, are not put at risk to be rejected or attacked by the body by presenting itself as a foreign body. Allogenic stem cells, since they are coming from a donor’s body are at risk of rejection and Graft

“Through the isolation and manipulation of cells, scientists are finding ways to identify young, regenerating ones that can be used to replace damaged of dead cells in diseased organs. This therapy is similar to the process of organ transplant, only the treatment consists of the transplantation of cells rather than organs. The cells that have shown by far the most promise of supplying diseased organs with healthy cells are called stem cells.” (Chapter Preface)

Regarding stem cell donations, you can donate your own bone marrow stem cells in advance. The cells are saved and then used later on, or, transplanted from a donor. The donor might be a family member or unrelated person. “The necessity for stem cell transplants has increased by 45 percent - from 2,520 to 3,668 patients annually. This is due

There are several components that must match between the donor and the recipient. They both must have the exact same blood type, antigens, and

Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (H&I) is the branch of Clinical Science (Blood sciences) involved in HLA typing and screening for solid organ and haematopoietic stem cell transplants (Histocompatibility) and the genetics of major histocompatibility complex associated disease (immunogenetics). Clinical scientists within this field have limited patient interactions yet must still embody professional practice. Each of the following statements will examine aspects of professional practice and how they impact on clinical scientists within H&I.