expert corner
immune attack against the host resulting to a condition known as graft versus host disease( GVDH). By 1960s, increasing knowledge of human histocompatibility antigen systems led to renewed attempts in marrow grafting in human patients. Simultaneously, demonstration of HSCs in cord blood suggested the use of this“ clinically waste material” for stem cell transplantation. Realization that stem cells can be mobilised into circulation using agents like granulocyte colony stimulating factor( G-CSF), mobilised peripheral blood( MPBL) replaced the invasive bone marrow collection, making the procedure comparatively easier and less painful for both, the clinician and the donor. By 1990s, the number of CD34 + cells in the graft material was found to correlate with success of transplantation. This gave a quantitative parameter to judge the quality of the graft material. The use of CD34 + HSCs from other sources like cord blood occasioned the shift in terminology from bone marrow transplantation( BMT) to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation( HCT).
The bone marrow transplantation can provide a critical life support to the cancer patients e. g., those suffering from leukemia and other haematological and non-hematological disorders. However, given that native
38 BioVoiceNews | February 2017