autologous

Examples of autologous in the following topics:

• Gene Expression in Stem Cells

  • There are three accessible sources of autologous adult stem cells in humans: (1) bone marrow, which requires extraction by harvesting (i.e., drilling into bone); (2) adipose tissue (lipid cells), which requires extraction by liposuction; and (3) blood, which requires extraction through apheresis (wherein blood is drawn from the donor, passed through a machine that extracts the stem cells, and returned to the donor).
  • Of all the stem cell types, autologous harvesting involves the least risk.
  • By definition, autologous cells are obtained from one's own body, just as one may bank his or her own blood for elective surgical procedures.
  • Embryonic cell lines and autologous embryonic stem cells generated through therapeutic cloning have also been proposed as promising candidates for future therapies.

• Tissue Engineering

  • Autologous cells are obtained from the same individual to which they will be reimplanted.
  • Autologous cells have the fewest problems with rejection and pathogen transmission, however in some cases might not be available.
  • For example in genetic disease suitable autologous cells are not available.
  • Also very ill or elderly persons, as well as patients suffering from severe burns, may not have sufficient quantities of autologous cells to establish useful cell lines.

• Rhinoplasty

  • Occasionally, the surgeon uses either an autologous cartilage graft or a bone graft, or both, in order to strengthen or to alter the nasal contour(s).
  • The autologous grafts usually are harvested from the nasal septum, but, if it has insufficient cartilage (as can occur in a revision rhinoplasty), then either a costal cartilage graft (from the rib cage) or an auricular cartilage graft (concha from the ear) is harvested from the patient's body.
  • Moreover, when neither type of autologous graft is available, a synthetic graft (nasal implant) is used to augment the nasal bridge.

• Bone Grafting

  • Bone grafts may be autologous (bone harvested from the patient's own body, often from the iliac crest), allograft (cadaveric bone usually obtained from a bone bank), or synthetic (often made of hydroxyapatite or other naturally-occurring and biocompatible substances) with similar mechanical properties to bone.

• Breast Augmentation and Reduction

  • The fat-transfer approach effects the augmentation, and corrects the contour defects of the breast hemisphere with grafts of autologous adipocyte fat tissue.

• Skin Grafts

  • The source of donor skin can be the recipient (autologous), other humans (isogeneic, or identical twin; or allogeneic), or animals (xenogeneic).

• Immunotherapy for Cancer

  • Adoptive cell-based immunotherapy involves isolating either allogenic or autologous immune cells, enriching them outside the body, and transfusing them back to the patient.