Greek: originated elsewhere.

The transplantation of stem cells of a genetically different person. In order to prevent a serious rejection reaction of the transplanted cells, the match of the donor’s and recipient’s tissue characteristics is necessary to the greatest extent possible.
Also see allogenic

Anemia which is caused due to a reduction in the red blood cells (erythrocytes) or due to a lack of blood pigments (Hemoglobin). Causes of an anemia could, for example, be the loss of blood, reduced formation of erythrocytes in the bone marrow or disturbances of the iron metabolism. An increased reduction of erythrocytescan also result in an anemia.
A chronic anemia leads tothe lack of oxygen in the body, and correspondingly to physical weakness, paleness, shortness of breath in cases of stress/overexertion and eventually to pain (angina pectoris) caused by restricted supply of the heart muscle. In the event of a rapid loss of blood, this frequently leads to a shock.

In order to differentiate between the various types of an anemia with a normal total blood volume, you define the number, dimension and appearance of theerythrocytes, the volume of the blood pigments (hemoglobin), the hemoglobin content of the individual erythrocytesas well as the ratio of the erythrozctesto the total blood (Hematocrit).

A stem cell collection method. The donor is injected with a growth factor for a period of five days or longer. This hormone-like substance (G-CSF) is produced by the body, for example, in the event of infections and it has been able to be produced artificially for quite some time now. The growth factor enables the stem cells, which are otherwise mainly located in the bone marrow, to pass over into the flowing blood in a relatively large number.

After the pretreatment has been finalized, the stem cells can be collected from the blood with a special procedure (apheresis). For this purpose, venous entrances are placed on both arms. The blood is withdrawn on one arm, it flows through a so-called cell separator and then back into the body through the other arm. The cell separator separates the stem cells by means of centrifugation and it collects them for the transplantation.

The peripheral stem cell collection takes place for a maximum period of two consecutive days in a special clinic. The donor does not have to be admitted as an in-patient. The body will reproduce the stem cells collected within two weeks.

Condition ofthe bone marrow after conditioning, the so-called "cell depth."At this point in time, it is no longer functional and the patient is correspondingly prone to infections.

Emerging from the same body

With regard to this form of transplantation, stem cells will be collected from the patient’s stem cells or blood which will be retransplanted in the patient after therapy has staken place.

Body fluid that consists ofthe liquid blood plasma as well as the solid cellular components (erythrocytes, leukocytesand thrombocytes) and that circulates in the blood vessels through the organism. The blood serves forthe transport and distribution of oxygen, nutrients, enzymes and hormones, the removal of metabolic products and carbon dioxide as well as the heat regulation.

The total blood volume of a human being amounts to around one twelfth of his/her body weight (on average around five to six liters). The blood temperature for a healthy person is 37°C. The yellowish blood serum is comprised, among others, of water, various ions (e.g. sodium, calcium, potassium,chloride, magnesium and iron), carbohydrates, fats, proteins, homones and antibodies.The blood plasma corresponds to the blood serum, only that it receives proteins in addition (albumines, globulins andfibrinogens). The cellular share of the blood (erythrozctes, thrombocytesand leukocytes) makes up around 45 percent of the blood volume. The red color of the blood emerges due to the hemoglobin (blood pigment) that is contained in the erythrocytes and which is responsible for the transportation of oxygen. The salt concentration in the blood corresponds to around 0.9 percentage of saline. With regard to this salt concentration, the erythrocytesretain their typical disk shape. A loss of blood of over half of the blood volume is fatal if the blood is not replaced by means of a blood transfusion.

See Cell separator

A fixed component ofthe blood, especially erythrocytes, leukocytesand thrombocytes. In a broader sense, blood cells also include the preliminary stages ofthe mature blood cells.

See Erythrocytes

See Leukocytes

See Thrombocytes

Stem cells which are particularly inherent in the bone marrow and which are capable of differentiating themselves from the various blood cells.

Bone marrow is located in the inside ofthe bones.For adults, in the flat bones, especially in the cranial bone, the vertebral body, sternum and pelvis. The bone marrow comprises the hematopoietic cell system.

Collection ofthe bone marrow, generally from the iliac crest and less frequently from the sternum (sternalpuncture) with a sharp cannula, either due to diagnostical reasons or in order to obtain donor marrow for a transplantation.

The transfer of stem cells from the bone marrow to a patient whose own formation of blood has been completely destroyed due to an intensive pretreatment.

Endoscopic examination method with which the upper respiratory tracts (trachea and bronchi)are examined.

See Proliferationshemmer (Proliferation inhibitor)

A special device that can split the blood up into its diverse components (into red or white blood cells and blood platelets) with the aid of a centrifuge.In this way, the stem cells can be separated from the circulating blood while the other blood components are transfused back tothe donor again.

Once you are established as a suitable donor for a patient, our medical service center, Cellex Medical Services CMS, will look after you. Before and after the collection process, our specialized partner for stem cell collection will be available to you in a qualified advisory capacity and as a contact for your questions.

A physical procedure that, e.g., is deployed to separate liquids (centrifuge principle).

Medications that inhibit pathogens or malignant cells in their growth or that can kill them. In order to kill bacteria, the various antibiotics are applied such as penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides, etc. and against fungi, antimycotics, fungicides or respectively fungistatics, and against viruses, antivirals; drugs for the treatment of cancer diseases are calledcytostatic drugs. In day-to-day clinical life, the term chemotherapeutics isoften used with cytostatic with the same connotation.

A treatment procedure with which cancer cells should be destroyed in the body with specific medications.

Protein compounds which are located in the blood and which are involved in the complex processes of blood coagulation.

An examination method with X-rays. Numerous radiographs are taken from various directions which are then consolidated into image cuts by means of a computer.

Preparation of a patient for the stem cell transplantation by means of a high-dosage chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.

Newborns’blood that still exists in the umbilical cord and in the placenta after the umbilical cord has been cut.It is rich in stem cells. The cord blood is disposed of under normal circumstances along with the placenta.

The donation of newborns’ blood from the umbilical cord. The blood will be taken from the umbilical cord and placenta directly after the cord has been cut. The stem cells contained therein will then be removed and they can be used to treat children and adults.

A virus from the family of herpesviruses. For immunosuppressed patients, the virus can result in substantial complications. It can attack the liver, heart muscle, the eyes, gastro-intestinal tract and the lungs.

The designation for a group of chemically different substances which prevent or strongly delay the cell division by intervening in the cells’ metabolism. Cytostatic drugs are used to treat malignant tumors. Tumor cells are no longer subject tothe cells’ own control over growth and division. Forthat reason, they regenerate faster than healthy body cells. Cytostatic drugs can systematically prevent the growth of tumor cells. Since cytostatic drugs also intervene in the regeneration and growth metabolism of healthy cells, a therapy with cytostatic drugs can lead to substantial side-effects (e.g. digestive disorders, hair loss).Cytostatic drugs include, among others, theantimetabolites, which suppress the cells’ own vital substances and therefore block metabolism processes which are essential for life within the cells. Alkylating agents inhibit the cell division by blocking the DNA synthesis. The selection of the cytostatic substance for a tumor therapy depends on the type ofthe tumorbecause the various tumor cells react in different ways tothe individual cytostatic drugs.
Also see Chemotherapie (Chemotherapy)

The deoxyribonucleic acids(abbreviation DNS, English DNA) isthe substance out of which the genetic compositions of genes ofthe living being and certain viruses consist. It contains the sugardesoxyribose and the four basesadenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C) and thymine (T), whose sequence provides the encrypted genetic information according to the genetic code. It is structured as a "double helix" (Watson-Crick-Model), i.e., it consists of twopolynucleotide chains whose bases face each other and are connected by hydrogen bonds and that are wound helically around each other. In the process, only the matching (complementary) bases adenine and thymine as well as cytosine and guanine can be joined together so that the base sequence is induced by one strand of the other (complementary) strand.This isthe precondition for the identical doubling (reduplication) ofthe genetic material and its unmodified transmission from cell generation to cell generation.

Illustrationof the heart’s electrical activities in the form of a curve recording.

A flexible tube, equipped with a source of light, a lens system and frequently also a camera that enables the examination of bodily regions like the stomach and oesophagus, intestines, uterus, trachea, and bronchi.

Red blood cells which are responsible for supplying the body with oxygen.

Radiation ofthe whole body with ionizing rays, e.g. as a radiation therapy before a bone marrow transplantation. A full body radiation can also result in a radiation accident.

Abbreviation for granulocyte-colonie-stimulating factor. It refers to a growth factor, i.e. a substance that has an influence on the formation of blood. This substance that is similar to a hormone is produced by the body in each case of an infection. In particular, the formation and function of a sub-group ofthe white blood cells, the so-called granulocytes and their progenitors are influenced or respectively controlled. This substance has been able to be produced in the laboratory for a few years now and it is admitted as a drug to stimulate the reproduction of stem cells. G-CSF induces the stem cells which are mainly inherent in the bone marrow to be washed away in the flowing blood.

(English) Translated: The transplant’s reaction tothe recipient. The donor’s immune system that is transplanted with the bone marrow can identify the patient’s body cells as unrelated and respond tothat. It therefore refers to a reverse rejection reaction. In the process, this can result in skin rashes,an inflammation ofthe oral mucuos membrane and jaundice and in severe cases, to strong diarrhoea and to failure ofthe organs affected.

A sub-group ofthe white blood cells. The granulocytes are responsible for theprotection against infections.

Examinationof the heart by means of ultrasound.

It spansthe formation of red and white blood cells as well as blood platelets; it is located in the bone marrow.

Abbreviation: Hb. The red blood pigment contained in the erythrocytes. The hemoglobin is made up approx. 94 percent out ofthe protein globin and six percent out of theiron-containing, color-giving porphyrin heme, which is responsible forthe transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Hemoglobin moreover serves as a buffer substance for the pH regulation of the blood plasma.
Hemoglobin is formed in the preliminary stages ofthe red blood cells and it is eliminated from the reticulohistiocytic system after the erythrocytes have died off. The iron obtained in this way will be used again for the new formationof hemoglobin.A hemoglobin molecule consists of four protein chains with one hem each. After the compilation of the protein chains, differentiation is made between diverse variants of hemoglobin.

Abbreviation for the English term Human Leukocyte Antigen System, ("menschliches Leukozyten-Antigen-System" in German). A system comprised of proteins which occur on the cell surface of all nucleated cells, the exception being sperm. Furthermore, also included in the HLA system are components ofthe complementary system, which plays a role in the immune defense. The setup of these proteins (HLA antigens) is differs completely on an individual basis. The HLA system serves the organism, among others, to differentiate between autologous cells and foreign cells.

The varioustypes of HLA antigens are divided into classes. Characteristics of Class I include, e.g., the antigens HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C. Class II includes, e.g., the antigen HLA-DR.

Examination ofthe blood sample of a bone marrow donor with regard to specific tissue charactertistics from the HLA system.

Characteristics ofthe white blood cells in human beings. Initially, these surface characteristics are identified in leukocytes (white blood cells). The actual task of the HLA system consists of regulating the defense mechanisms and it is therefore critical forthe survival of an individual when it comes to fighting off pathogens and other foreign bodies. This also entails the differentiation between autologous body cells from foreign body cells. To ensure that a rejection reaction does not take place during the transplantation, the donor’s and patient’s tissue characteristics must match by almost 100%.

Medical administration of hormones in order to eliminate ailments which could arise due tote lack of all or the lack of one or more hormones.

A free edge ofthe ilium on both sides of the pelvic bone which expands upwards tothe wing ofthe ilium.Since the iliac crest is relatively easy to access from outside, it is selected forthe harvesting of bone marrow.

A puncture of the pelvic in the area ofthe iliac crest forthe collectionof bone marrow.

The immune system’s reaction to a substance foreign tothe body (antigen) with the objective of rendering it ineffective. In the scope ofthe immune response, special defense cells (cell mediated immunity) are either formed or specific antibodies (humoral immunity) are provided and activated. The reaction to the first-time contact with an antigen is described as the primary immune response, and that with a renewed contact with the same antigen as the secondary immune response; it takes effect more quickly and lasts longer. An immune response generally leads to the body’s immunity against this special substance. However, this can result in a sensitization with ensuing allergy.

A system comprised of several organs which enables the body to fight against infections and that enables the body to differentiate between own and foreign tissues. This includes components of the white blood cells, the thymus gland behind the sternum, the lymph nodes, thespleen and special structures in the intestinal wall. The same meaning as the defense system.

Pharmaceuticals that weaken or completely suppress the organism’s immune reaction, e.g, cytostatics, glucocorticoids, ciclosporin, etc.

The artificially induced weakening or suppression ofthe immune reaction. An immunosuppression is brought about therapeutically in the form of radiation and medications after transplantations or forautoimmune diseases and it is accompanied by a general impairment of the body’s defenses and a higher risk of infection.
Also see> Immunosuppressant

Pentration of pathogens into the body which can lead to inflammations or to general symptoms of illness.

A low-germ unit of a hospital room where the patient is sometimes treated after the stem cell transplantation.

A collective term for a series of malignant diseases which all demonstrate a pathologically increased reproduction of immature and therefore non-functional white blood cells. Symptoms of the disease mainly emerge due to the suppression of the normal formation of blood. Symptoms of the disease entail anemia, bleedings, infections and an enlargement as well as a reduction in the functionality ofthe organs attacked by the leukemia cells.

White blood cells which are responsible forthe defense against infection and forthe immune system.

An examination to record the basic values ofthe respiration.

A sub-group of the leukocytes which serve for the identification and defense against substances which are foreign to the body (antigens) and cells. Its progenitors, the lymphoblastoids, originate from the bone marrow. Their characterization to the functional defense cells takes place in the spleen, within the lymph follicle, in the thymus and in the lymphatic tissues of the intestinal tract (Bursa equivalent). In particular, it enters into the blood vessel system via the lymph channels. The lymphocytes are subdivided into two groups in accordance with their defense functions:
1. B-Lymphocytes form antibodies;
2. T-Lymphocytes destroy antigens directly (cytolysis, cytotoxicity) and they are therefore carriers of the cell-mediated immunity. For the defense against substances or cells which are foreign to the body, both types of lymphocytes interact by means of complicated mechanisms.

Blood that is located in the blood vessels.

Extraction of stem cells from the blood after stimulating the stem cell production by means of the body’s own substance that is similar to a hormone (G-CSF). The stem cells will be harvested from the blood with a cell separator.

Medications which belong tothe immunosuppressants and which suppress the cell division. In this way, damage tothe transplanted stem cells is prevented.

Measures which serve to prevent infections with pathogens.

Insertion of a puncturing cannula to withdraw body fluid or tissues, e.g., venipuncture for blood withdrawal or the puncture ofthe iliac crest to harvest bone marrow.

See Radiotherapy

The controlled application of radioactive rays forthe treatment of malignant diseases.

The organ recipient’s immune reaction directed towards a foreign tissue such as a transplant. After the stem cell transplantation, the transplant is rarely rejected (< 5% risk). In contrast, the risk for a reverse rejection reaction (see GvHD) prevails.

A renewed occurrence of a disease that had appeared to have been overcome.

The remission of symptoms of diseases, in the case of cancer diseases, the reduction of tumor cells. Differentiation is made beetween complete remission (absolutely no symptoms ofthe disease can be verified any longer), partial remission (reduction ofthe tumor cells by more than 50%) as well as minimal regression (reduction of the tumor cells by 25-50%)

An examination by using ultrasound.

During a stem cell transplantation, the stem cells (here those of an unrelated donor) will be transferred tothe patient’s bloodstream by means of a central intravenous catheter. The stem cells search for their way into the patient’s bone cavities themselves where they subsequently begin to produce new, healthy blood cells if no complications arise.

Here: hematopoietic blood cells are the parental cells of all blood cells (white and red blood cells as well as blood platelets). They are formed in the bone marrow and from there they are washed out into the peripheral blood. There are other types of stem cells.

Stemcells which exist as opposed to embryonic stem cells after birth in the organism and from which new, specialized cells are formed over the entire lifetime. Adult stem cells can, for example, be found in the bone marrow, the skin and in the liver.

Stem cells which are obtained through an embryo which has been created by means of artificial insemination. Pluripotent, that is, they also have the possibility of differentiating between various organ cells.
Also see> Stem cells, pluripotent

Stem cells which are capable of differentiating themselves from each type of cell of an organism.

Total body radiation

Blood platelets, the smallest cells ofthe blood, which cause the coagulation process.

Characteristics in the body cells based on which the immune system can differentiate between own and foreign tissues. Each human being has characteristics which are typical for him/her. For the stem cell transplantation, the key is to ensure a complete match of these characteristics between the donor and recipient to the greatest extent possible Currently, more than 7.000 different tissues characteristics have been identified.

An indispensable procedure in transplantation medicinein which the donor’s and recipient’s tissues are examined in terms of mutual compatibility. In the event of deficient tissue compatibility, rejection reactions will occur.
Also see > HLASystem

Cells, tissues or organs that are tranferred from a donor organism to a receiver organism,e.g., in the event ofthe complete malfunction of an organ in the receiver’s body.
Also see> Transplantation

The rejection of a transplant by the recipient organism due to an immune reaction (Graft-versus-host-reaction). With a transplant rejection, the genetically defined surface structures on the cells of the donor organ (histocompatibility antigens) do not match sufficiently with those ofthe recipient organism. They are identified as foreign by the recipient’s immune system and then destroyed. In order to prevent a reaction like this, the immune system ofthe recipient is artificially weakened (immunosuppression) before and after the transplantation with medications and/or radiation treatment.
Also see> Transplantation
Also see> Abstoßungsreaktion (Rejection reaction)

> Graft-versus-Host-Reaction

The transfer of cells, tissues or organs of a donor to a recipient (allogenic transplantation) or to other areas of the own body (autologous transplantation). Thanks to a transplantation, diseased or severely damaged organs which are no longer functional are replaced. Differentiation is made between:
1. the autologous transplantation (donor and recipient are identical).
2. The allogenic or homologous transplantation (recipient and donor differ genetically, but their species is the same).
3. the xenogeneic transplantation (transfer of animal organs to human beings).
Kidneys, liver, pancreas, insulin-producing islet cells of the pancreas, heart, lungs, blood vessels, bones, bone marrow, skin as well as the cornea of the eyes are transplanted today with some success. Possible rejection reactions are connected to the matching between the tissue which is foreign to the body with the recipient’s tissue, the histocompatibility. In the event of significant deviations from the leukocyte surface structures (histocompatibility antigens) between the donor and the recipient, the transplant will be destroyed by the recipient’s immune system. The probability of such a rejection is all the less, the more closely the donor and recipient are related genetically. In order to prevent a rejection for tissues which are not identical genetically, the recipient’s immune system will be weakened artificially (immune suppression) with medications before and after the transplantation.