Glossary

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A
Adult Stem Cells Adult stem cells are those derived from a developed individual - which includes a baby at birth - as opposed to embryonic stem cells, which are derived from an embryo. The primary role of adult stem cells within a living organism is to repair and maintain the tissue in which they are found.
Afterbirth Refers to the placenta and membranes that are expelled from the uterus following the birth of a baby.
Allogeneic Use The practice of transplanting stem cells that have been collected from a donor. The matched donor may be either related or unrelated to the patient.
Autoimmune Disease A group of disorders, which includes type 1 (juvenile) diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and many others, that are characterised by an abnormal immune system response against the patient's own tissues. This is caused by a breakdown in "self tolerance", which is how the immune system normally distinguishes between "self" and "non-self". See also regulatory T-cells.
Autologous Use The practice of reinfusing stem cells into the same individual the cells were collected from.

B
Bone Marrow The spongy, flexible interior found in the hollow interior of long bones. Responsible for producing new blood cells. The different blood cells produced by the bone marrow are:
  • Red blood cells - responsible for carrying oxygen around the body
  • White blood cells - make up the body's immune system and are important for fighting infection
  • Platelets - required for clotting

C
CD34 CD34 positive cells are normally found in the umbilical cord and bone marrow as blood-forming cells. The amount of CD34 positive cells is determined by ASCH in each cord blood sample processed.
Cell Viability The determination of living or dead cells within the cord blood sample.
CFU-Assay Colony Forming Unit (or CFU) is another technique used to determine the viability of the cells that have been stored.
Chemotherapy The use of medication to treat disease. Most chemotherapy drugs interfere with the ability of cells to grow or multiply.
Contamination Pollution of the cord blood sample by bacterial, viral or other environmental factors present at the time of cord blood collection. Aseptic collection technique and adequate cleaning of the cord reduces the risk of contamination of the cord blood sample in the great majority of cases.
Cryopreservation The process of preserving cells or whole tissues by cooling them to sub-zero temperatures. At these low temperatures, any biological activity, including the biochemical reactions that would lead to cell death, are effectively stopped.
Customer Identification Number A unique 6-digit number assigned to all client records and products to ensure traceability.

D
Differentiation One of the two unique properties of stem cells, referring to their ability to develop into mature cells of various types within the body.
DNA Carries genetic information and determines the make-up of all living cells.

E
Embryo Human development is divided into an embryonic period and a fetal period. Embryo relates to the period from fertilisation until the end of the eighth week after fertilisation. A fetus is the term for a developing infant after this period.
Embryonic Stem Cells Embryonic stem cells have the ability to become all cell types of the human body. (Until recently, it was thought that adult stem cells from a particular tissue could only differentiate into mature cells for that tissue.)

G
Genome A genome contains all of the genetic information and all of the hereditary material possessed by an organism.
GvHD (Graft Versus Host Disease) Graft versus host disease is a common complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation, in which the newly transplanted cells attack the transplant recipient's body.
Granulocytes A type of white blood cell - part of the immune system - filled with microscopic granules containing enzymes that digest micro-organisms.

H
HLA Typing Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA) refers to the tissue type matching required for transplantation purposes. The HLA antigens detected on the surface of leucocytes (white blood cells) regulate how the body recognises and rejects foreign tissue.

I
Immune System The immune system is a complex network of specialised cells that are responsible for fighting infections and destroying abnormal cells. This network includes cells that make antibodies (eg "B-cells") and cells that directly destroy abnormal or infected cells (eg "effector T-cells"). Th immune system also controls cells that ensure the immune response is appropriate and limited (eg "regulatory T-cells"). Loss of appropriate control can lead to autoimmune disease.
Infusion Return of product to the patient via an intravenous injection.

L
Liquid Nitrogen Nitrogen in liquid state is extremely cold (-196C) and therefore can be used to cryopreserve living material.

M
Medical Director Cell Care's Medical Director has overall responsibility for the medical aspects of the collection processing, storage and release of umbilical cord blood.
Monash Immunology Stem Cell Laboratories Monash Immunology Stem Cell Laboratories (MISCL) is a collaboration of researchers who seek to develop treatments using both stem cells and knowledge of our body's immune system. Researchers at MISCL study adult stem cells and applications for repair or regeneration of blood, pancreatic, respiratory, liver, reproductive, thymic, renal and neural tissues. This is complemented by the study of human reproduction, oocyte formation and embryology. Some of MISCL's researchers focus on the immune system for induction of transplantation, immune tolerance, correction of autoimmunity, reversal of immunodeficiency as well as treatments for cancer. MISCL is a centre of research excellence within the School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. (http://www.med.monash.edu.au/miscl)
Multipotency See Stem Cell Potency

P
Peripheral Blood Stem Cells While most blood stem cells are found in the bone marrow, a small number are present in the blood stream. These multipotent peripheral blood stem cells can be used in the same way as bone marrow stem cells to treat leukaemia and various blood diseases.
Placenta The vascular organ that connects the developing fetus to the mother's uterus. The placenta allows the transfer of nutrients to the fetus and the return of waste products. It also produces hormones that aid in growth and development of the fetus and provides protection against bacterial infection.
Plasticity Stem cell plasticity refers to the apparent ability of adult stem cells of one tissue type to generate the specialised cells of another tissue type. It is thought to occur in response to tissue damage, and to contribute to repair of tissues other that those from which the stem cells originated.
Pluripotency See Stem Cell Potency
Production Manager Cell Care's Production Manager is responsible for all production activity, from kit manufacture to long-term storage of product.
Proliferation Growth, replication.

Q
Quality Manager

Cell Care's Quality Manager is responsible for developing systems that ensure a consistently high standard of product is manufactured and that continual improvement is encouraged.

R
Regenerative Medicine A new and rapidly developing area of research that studies the use of stem cells and other cells to repair or replace damaged tissues.
Regulatory T-Cells A specialised population of immune system cells that are critical for controlling the immune response and ensuring that "effector cells" only target abnormal or foreign cells ("non-self") and do not attack normal cells ("self"). Loss of regulatory T-cell function can lead to autoimmune disease. In animal studies, restoration of regulatory T-cells can prevent the development of autoimmune disease.
Reject-Reaction See Graft Versus Host Disease

S
Stem Cells Stem cells are unique cells in the body distinguished by their two unique characteristics:
  • Self renewal – the ability to produce more stem cells
  • Differentiation – the ability to produce mature cells of various types
These unique properties ensure that when a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or to develop into another more specialised type of cell. This allows the body to maintain healthy tissues and also repair or replace damaged or worn out cells or tissues.
Stem Cell Potency Stem cells fall into three categories of potency (meaning their ability to differentiate into other cell types) depending on their stage of development.
  • Totipotent: The master cell of humans. Each cell can develop into an entire new human.
  • Pluripotent: Cells can form ANY cell type.
  • Multipotent: Cells that have already differentiated but can still form a limited number of other tissues.

T
Totipotency See Stem Cell Potency
Transfusion Medicine The branch of medicine that is concerned with the transfusion of blood and blood components.
Transplantation Stem cell transplantation is a medical process used to treat a range of life threatening diseases including leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloma and other serious blood disorders and some solid tumours.

U
Umbilical Cord The cordlike structure connecting the developing fetus to the placenta at the abdomen. Its main function is to carry nourishment and oxygen from the placenta to the fetus and return waste products from the fetus to the placenta. Following the birth of the baby, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut, allowing the cord blood stem cells to be easily collected.
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