Thursday, March 8, 2012

Stem cell treatment tricks immune system into accepting donor organs, study shows

This will sound familiar to you Stem Cell Transplant folks out there..... I find this technology absolutely AMAZING!

About a month before transplant surgery, kidney donors must inject themselves with a medication for several days that forces stem cells and other key cells called “facilitating cells” into their bloodstream, from where they can be collected and sent off to the University of Louisville for processing.
Leventhal said these “facilitating cells” are naturally occurring cells that help create a more favorable environment for the stem cells and allow engraftment to occur safely.
Ildstad has developed a process for enriching these cells and formed a company called Regenerex LLC, which is developing the patented technology.
Meanwhile, the transplant recipient is given radiation and chemotherapy to suppress the immune system, a process intended to prepare them for accepting the donor’s stem cells.

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