Allogeneic Stem Cells

Allogeneic stem cells refer to stem cells that are sourced from a donor who is genetically different from the recipient. This type of stem cell is primarily used in allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), a medical procedure designed to treat various blood disorders, including certain types of cancer, by replacing the recipient’s diseased or damaged bone marrow with healthy stem cells from a compatible donor.

Key Characteristics of Allogeneic Stem Cells

1. Source: Allogeneic stem cells can be obtained from several sources:

• Bone Marrow: Harvested directly from the donor’s bone marrow.
• Peripheral Blood: Collected from the bloodstream after the donor has been treated with growth factors to increase stem cell levels.
• Umbilical Cord Blood: Stem cells collected from the umbilical cord after childbirth.

1. Matching Donors: Successful allogeneic transplants require careful matching between the donor and recipient based on human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing. The best matches are often siblings, but unrelated donors can also be found through national registries.
2. Indications for Use: Allogeneic stem cell transplants are indicated for various conditions, including:

• Acute and chronic leukemia
• Lymphomas
• Aplastic anemia (AA)
• Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)
• Certain genetic disorders

1. Procedure Overview:

• Conditioning Regimen: Before receiving the transplant, patients typically undergo high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy to destroy their diseased cells and suppress their immune system.
• Transplantation: The donor’s stem cells are infused into the recipient’s bloodstream, where they travel to the bone marrow and begin producing new blood cells in a process known as engraftment.

1. Graft-Versus-Tumor Effect: One significant advantage of allogeneic transplants is the potential for a graft-versus-tumor (GVT) effect, where the donor’s immune cells attack any remaining cancer cells in the recipient’s body.
2. Complications: Allogeneic transplants carry risks, including:

• Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), where the donor’s immune cells attack the recipient’s tissues.
• Infections due to immunosuppression.

References

For further reading on allogeneic stem cells, you can refer to the following sources:

1. Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation – Mayo Clinic
   This resource provides an overview of allogeneic stem cell transplantation, including its definition, process, and indications.
   DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2013.05.029
2. Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplants – Leukaemia Foundation
   This article discusses allogeneic transplants, including donor matching and treatment indications.
   DOI: 10.3390/cells8020148
3. Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Overview – American Cancer Society
   This resource outlines the procedure, benefits, risks, and recovery associated with allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
   DOI: 10.1007/s12053-017-9571-5