Stem Cells and Regeneration Lecture Notes

Flashcards covering essential vocabulary related to stem cells, their types, culture conditions, differentiation processes, and transplantation.

Amniocentesis

A prenatal diagnostic procedure in which a small amount of amniotic fluid is withdrawn from the uterus for laboratory testing.

Human Amniotic Fluid

Used in prenatal diagnosis and has proven safe, reliable, and relatively simple for screening chromosomal and genetic disorders.

Amniotic Fluid-Derived Stem Cells (AFSCs)

A novel type of stem cells found in amniotic fluid, capable of remaining undifferentiated in culture and overcoming ethical issues related to embryonic stem cells.

c-kit

A receptor that binds to stem cell factor, used to isolate pluripotent progenitor cells.

Pluripotent

The ability of a stem cell to differentiate into any cell type of the body.

Adipogenic Differentiation

The process by which progenitor cells are induced to form adipocytes, characterized by morphological changes and lipid accumulation.

Endothelial Differentiation

The process by which progenitor cells differentiate into endothelial cells, displaying specific markers such as factor VIII and P1H12.

Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs)

Stem cells that give rise to all blood cell types and are capable of self-renewal.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)

A condition that can occur after a stem cell transplant wherein the donated stem cells attack the recipient's body.

HLA Matching

The process of matching human leukocyte antigens between a donor and recipient to minimize the risk of transplant rejection.

Transplantation Types

Autologous (using patient's own stem cells) and Allogeneic (using donor stem cells) transplantation.

Cord Blood Collection

The process of collecting blood from the umbilical cord and placenta, a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells.

Cryopreservation

The process of preserving cells by cooling them to sub-zero temperatures, typically using DMSO as a cryoprotectant.

Neural Stem Cells (NSCs)

The most primordial cells of the nervous system, capable of self-renewal and differentiation into neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes.

Key Signaling Pathways

Regulatory networks like Wnt, Notch, and Jak/Stat that govern stem cell behavior and fate decisions.

Gene Therapy

A technique that modifies a person's genes to treat or prevent disease, commonly performed on HSCs.