Technology & Products

Pluristems PLacental eXpanded

(PLX) Cells

PLX-PAD for Peripheral Artery Disease

PLX-IBD for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

PLX-MS for Multiple Sclerosis

PLX-STROKE for Ischemic Stroke

PLX-BMT as an Alternative to BMT

FAQs

List of publications

Glossary

Adherent Stromal Cells An MSC-like cell derived from the placenta that is a result of Pluristem’s unique and proprietary 3D PluriX™ expansion technology.

Adult stem cells An undifferentiated cell found in a differentiated tissue that can renew itself and (with certain limitations) differentiate to yield all the specialized cell types of the tissue from which it originated.

Allogeneic transplantation Transplant of biological material from a donor into recipient patient of the same species. The donor and the recipient are different people and have different immune system cell composition (donor or donated stem cells).

Anemia A condition characterized by insufficient red blood cells in the body that is caused by deficiency in the oxygen-carrying material of the blood (hemoglobin). Primary symptoms include excessive tiredness and fatigability, breathlessness on exertion, paleness, and poor resistance to infection. Anemia may be due to a wide variety of different diseases.

American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) An international association of blood banks, including hospital and community blood centers, transfusion and transplantation services and individuals involved in activities related to transfusion and transplantation medicine. The AABB supports high standards of medical, technical and administrative performance, scientific investigation, clinical application and education. It is dedicated to encouraging the voluntary donation of blood and other tissues and organs through education, public information and research

Autologous transplantation Transplant of genetically identical material that originated from the recipient patient. For example, blood is collected from a patient, stored, and then transplanted back into the same patient. The donor and the recipient are the same person.

Blood Bank A stored supply of human material or tissues (blood) for future use

Bone Marrow A soft, spongy tissue that fills the cavities inside most bones in the human body. The Bone marrow is the source of stem cells that manufacture red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It is a conventional source for stem cell transplantation.

Cell division Method by which a single cell divides to create two cells. This continuous process allows a population of cells to increase in number or maintain its numbers.

Cell culture Growth of cells in vitro on an artificial medium for experimental research.

Cellular medicine A field of medicine that uses cells to repair tissues that have been damaged by human disease or to generate new tissues with desired functional activities.

Cellular therapy Treatments that utilize cells and tissues as therapeutic agents to treat injury or disease.

Chemotherapy Treatment of cancer or other malignant diseases by the use of specific chemical agent that selectively destroys rapidly growing cells. Extremely high doses of these drugs are sometimes needed to kill tumor cells in advanced cases of some malignancies. These high doses will also kill the body's stem cells in the bone marrow and peripheral blood stream.

Cord Blood An abbreviated term for umbilical cord blood.

Cryogenics Pertaining to or causing the production of low temperatures and their effect on the properties of matter

Cryopreservation Storage of biological materials in a constant steady state at extremely cold temperatures. The biological material is combined with a cryoprotectant substance formulated to protect the cells from damage during the freezing and subsequent thawing cycles. The cells remain frozen at -196°C (-321°F) until needed.

Differentiation The process whereby an unspecialized early embryonic cell acquires the features of a specialized cell such as a heart, liver or muscle cell.

Directed differentiation Manipulating stem cell culture conditions to induce differentiation into a particular cell type.

Embryonic stem cells Stem cells obtained from embryos. A type of pluripotent stem cell derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst. The Embryonic stem cells are Primitive (undifferentiated) cells that have the potential to become a wide variety of specialized cell types.

Engraftment The process by which newly transplanted stem cells migrate to and nest in the appropriate site of the recipient's body and start producing normal quantities of normal mature cells.

Erythrocytes Red blood cells. One of the elements found in bone marrow and peripheral blood. They transport oxygen throughout the body.

Family History Multi-generational evidence of a medical condition or disease in a group of individuals sharing common ancestry.

Fanconi anemia A rare, genetic condition that occurs in children and results in anemia. Symptoms include bone abnormalities, endocrine imbalances and patchy discoloration of the skin. Fanconi anemia patients have an increased risk of developing leukemia and other cancers.

Feeder layer Cells used in co-culture to maintain pluripotent stem cells. Cells usually consist of mouse embryonic fibroblasts.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Federal government regulatory agency dedicated to promote and protect the public health by allowing safe and effective products reach the market in a timely way, and monitoring products for continued safety after they are in use.

Gene therapy A promising, yet still experimental, process that involves altering the genetic composition of cells for the treatment or prevention of disease. In some cases the goal is to have the genetically modified cells repair a genetic anomaly that results in the prevention of disease progression. In other cases, the goal is that the genetically modified cells serve to protect the body against toxicities or disease progression. In the human blood system, only stem cells reproduce themselves and recreate other types of blood cells.

Graft Tissue or organ, which is transplanted to another part of the same animal (autograft), to an animal of the same species (homograft), of a different species (heterograft).

Graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) A transplant complication resulting from the reaction between the immune system cells of a stem cell transplant recipient (host) and donor (graft). A potential complication of transplants associated with the use of blood or tissue from a different person (allogeneic). In GVHD, the transplanted cells recognize the recipient's tissue as foreign and attack the recipient.

Graft versus leukemia effect (GVL) Transplanted white blood cells recognize residual cancer cells (cells which survived the chemo and radiation therapy and continue to grow in the patient’s body) and attack them. GVL is an advantageous process that assists in minimizing the chance of relapse by helping rid the body of residual cancer cells.

Hematopoietic The "Master" (blood forming) stem cells that is capable of recreating themselves and creating all of the other types of blood cells

Hematopoietic stem cells Transplanted white blood cells recognize residual cancer cells (cells which survived the chemo and radiation therapy and continue to grow in the patient's body) and attack them. GVL is an advantageous process that assists in minimizing the chance of relapse by helping rid the body of residual cancer cells.

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) Specific cell surface molecules (antigens) that are found on almost all human tissues. These antigens are identified for both the potential recipient and donor candidates prior to any transplantation procedure. This identification process is known as "HLA typing". The more closely matched the recipient and donor's HLAs are, the more likely the transplanted tissue will be compatible with and tolerated by the recipient. Registries, or databases, containing information on HLA-typed bone marrow and umbilical cord blood donors are maintained in many countries to help facilitate the location of an appropriately matched stem cell source for potential transplantation procedures.

In Vitro Literally, "in glass"; in a laboratory dish or test tube; an artificial environment. Describes a state or condition that occurs and/or exists outside of the body. Oftentimes, this term is used to characterize the testing conditions that occur in a laboratory environment

In Vivo Describes a state or condition that occurs and/or exists within the body. Oftentimes, this term is used to characterize the testing conditions that occur within humans and/or animals.

Leukemia Any of various acute or chronic cancers of the bone marrow in which unrestrained growth of blood cells occurs, often accompanied by anemia, impaired blood clotting and enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver and spleen

Long-term self-renewal The ability of stem cells to renew themselves by dividing into the same non-specialized cell type over long periods (many months to years) depending on the specific type of stem cell.

Lymphocytes Type of white blood cell, found in blood, lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow, that forms the immune system that guards individuals against attack by foreign tissue, viruses, and most microorganisms

Mesenchymal stem cells Cells capable of becoming fat, bone, cartilage and muscle tissues.

Microenvironment The molecules and compounds such as nutrients and growth factors in the fluid surrounding a cell in an organism or in the laboratory, which are important in determining the characteristics of the cell.

Placenta A vascular structure attached to the inner wall of the uterus, through which the fetus is supplied with nourishment and oxygen and through it the fetus gets rid of its waste products.

Plasma The fluid portion of blood.

Peripheral blood Blood derived from a patient's circulatory system (as opposed to blood in the bone marrow where it is made).

Platelet Colorless cells whose function is to control bleeding.

Proliferation Expansion of a population of cells by the continuous division of single cells into two identical daughter cells.

Radiation therapy Radiation is used to kill rapidly growing cancer cells or other malignancies. High doses of radiation, especially when used in combination with chemotherapy, also kill the vulnerable stem cells needed to maintain life.

Regenerative or reparative medicine A treatment in which stem cells are induced to differentiate into the specific cell type required to repair damaged or depleted adult cell populations or tissues

Signals Internal and external factors that control changes in cell structure and function.

Surface markers Surface proteins that are unique to certain cell types, which are visualized using antibodies or other detection methods.

Stem cells "Master Cells" that generate other differentiated cell types. Each tissue within the body contains a unique type of stem cells that renew and replace that tissue (e.g. nerve, brain, cartilage, blood) when needed due to damage or wear and tear. Stem cells of the blood (hematopoietic stem cells) generate all other blood cells in the human body, including red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells. Sources of hematopoietic stem cells include umbilical cord blood, bone marrow, peripheral blood and embryos

Stem cell stimulants Molecules that stimulate the growth and differentiation of stem cells.

Stroma cells Non-blood cells derived from organs, such as bone marrow or fetal liver, which are capable of supporting growth of blood cells in vitro. The Stoma cells derived from mesenchymal stem cells make the matrix within the bone marrow.

Transplant A procedure where an organ, tissue, or cells from one individual is removed and then grafted into a recipient to treat a disease. The tissue or cells transplanted may come from the same patient (autologous) or from another person (allogeneic). A hematopoietic stem cell transplant procedure is used to replace dead or diseased stem cells with healthy stem cells capable of rebuilding the body's blood supply and immune system.

Umbilical Cord The flexible, cordlike structure connecting the fetus at the navel with the placenta and containing two umbilical arteries and one vein that nourish the fetus and remove its wastes

Umbilical Cord blood Blood remaining in the umbilical cord immediately following the birth of the baby. The CB contains a rich concentration of stem cells and has other unique biological and therapeutic properties. CB provides an alternative source of stem cells in many situations where bone marrow is used.

Design by Mootag