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Vocabulary List for student use in Stem Cell Repair lesson
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML):
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow that results when a blood stem cell called a
"blast" becomes altered and undergoes abnormally rapid growth. This means that white blood cell
blasts accumulate in the bone marrow and interfere with the production of normal blood cells.
Myeloid leukemia is cancer of the myeloblast cells in the blood.
Adult stem cells:
Also known as somatic stem cells or tissue specific stem cells. Found in both juveniles and adults,
these stem cells are capable of dividing or self-renewing indefinitely and generate all the cell types of
the organ from which they originate.
Auer rods:
Long thin rods inside the myeloblast cells. They are an indication that the patient has AML, or Acute
Myeloid Leukemia.
Biomarker:
A protein that can latch onto the surface of a cell like a key in a lock. If the structure on the outside of
the cell matches then the biomarker attaches itself to the cell membrane. Different cells have
different structures on their membranes, so the presence of a biomarker helps in identifying a cell
type or in isolating the cell type when trying to purify a culture. Cell sorting techniques are based on
the presence of cellular biomarkers.
Biopsy:
The process of removing a tissue sample for analysis or diagnosis usually in the form of a skin
punch.
Biosafety cabinet:
A cabinet that filters air to prevent biohazards from escaping or contamination of the culture from
outside air. If the cabinet has a higher safety rating, it can be used in more clinical settings so that a
patient's cells remain safe.
Biotech:
Short for 'biotechnology.' The use of biological knowledge, microorganisms and biological processes
in industrial or manufacturing processes. Examples include synthetic hormones, bacteria to clean up
oil spills, genetic engineering, as well as cell and tissue cultures.
Bone marrow:
Most large bones have a soft, spongy tissue in the center that produce the white cells, red cells, and
platelets of blood. Bone marrow is also home to a number of different adult stem cells.
Cardiologist:
A physician who treats problems of the cardiovascular system, which includes the heart, arteries,
and veins in the body.
Catheter:
A hollow tube inserted into a body cavity, typically to withdraw or introduce fluid. There are many
different types of catheters, including cardiac catheters and urinary catheters. Congestive Heart
Failure – a condition in which the heart does not pump enough to circulate blood effectively
throughout the body. Symptoms vary widely, but the body can begin to retain fluid, lungs can
become congested making it difficult for the person to breathe, and fluid can accumulate in the
extremities.
Catheterization:
Introduction of a catheter into the body. In the case of cardiac catheterization, the procedure is
performed to diagnose problems of the heart, study blood flow or to repair damage or open blocked
arteries.
Cell counter:
A machine in which cells are routed one at a time through a capillary tube past a laser beam. The
scattering of light from each cell is analyzed by sophisticated software giving a count of the likely
distribution of different types of cells.
Chemotherapy:
Treatment of cancer with various drugs that destroy cancer cells. Many of these treatments have
side effects that affect healthy cells, as well.
Clinical Trial:
Testing potential medical therapies in human patients. Phase 1 trials are the first time the proposed
therapy is tested in humans. In Phase 1, usually a very small number of people, 10 to 20, are used
to test the safety of a new therapy or drug, how well it can be tolerated and what the right amounts of
treatment would be. Phase 2 trials involve 30-300 patients and are designed to prove the drug or
therapy works and to continue to test the safety of the therapy and to determine if there are any
harmful side effects. Phase 3 trials involve thousands of patients and can last many years. Phase 3
compares the new therapy to what is already approved and available to patients. New therapies
have to be better than the current standards of care and this must be proven in the final phase of
trials before the Food and Drug Administration will approve the therapy for use in all patients who
might need it.
ClinMACS® machine:
A cell sorting machine used by scientists to achieve pure cultures of a particular type of cell that is
sorted according to the biomarker that binds to it.
Commercializing:
Bringing a product or technology to market or making it commercially viable.
Conditioning:
The second stage of a stem cell transplant where massive amounts of chemotherapy are
administered to the patient to rid the body of the leukemic cells and the patient's immune system and
make room in the bone marrow for the new stem cells that will be administered.
Contrast Dye
Used in X-ray and CT (computed tomography) scans to highlight a particular tissue like blood
vessels or the digestive tract. The dye typically contains barium or iodine.
Cord blood:
Blood that is collected from the placenta through the umbilical cord. Cord blood is a rich source of
hematopoietic, or blood, stem cells. The cord blood is taken and stored in special banks for future
uses.
Culture plate:
A flat, transparent dish capable of holding some sort of liquid (medium) on which cells are grown.
Differentiation:
The ability of a cell to change from one type to another. A stem cell can differentiate into other types
of cells, such as a mesenchymal stem cell changing into an osteocyte, or bone cell. The stem cell
may go through a number of different steps from less specialized cells (precursor cells) to more
specific tissue like skin or muscle.
Echocardiogram:
An ultrasound image of the heart.
Ectoderm:
Set of cells in the developing embryo that give rise to the central nervous system, the lens of the
eye, cranial and sensory, the ganglia and nerves, pigment cells, head connective tissues, the
epidermis, hair, and mammary glands.
Ejection fraction or left ventricular ejection fraction :
The amount of blood the left ventricle pumps out to the body per beat of the heart.
Endoderm:
Set of cells in the developing embryo that give rise to the stomach, the colon, the liver, the pancreas,
the urinary bladder, the lining of the urethra, the epithelial parts of trachea, the lungs, the pharynx,
the thyroid, the parathyroid, and the intestines.
Epithelial Stem Cells:
A multipotent stem cell found in skin that give rise to hair follicles, sweat glands, and skin cells.
Ficoll:
Ficoll is a liquid that is used to separate the components of blood into its various components.
Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD):
When new cells from a stem cell transplant begin to attack the cells of the patient's body.
Granulocyte:
A type of white blood cell filled with sacs of enzymes that digest other cells.
Hematopoietic Stem Cell:
A multipotent stem cell (can turn into several different types of blood cells) found in bone marrow or
peripheral blood. It gives rise to all the types of blood cells: red blood cells, B lymphocytes, T
lymphocytes, natural killer cells, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, monocytes, and macrophages.
Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA):
A type of protein that is found on the outer surfaces of cells that is made up of six antigens. These
antigens are molecules that help your body identify which cells belong to your body and which do
not. If the HLA doesn't match up, the new immune system being given from the stem cell donor will
identify the patient's cells as not belonging and attack them.
Incubator:
A sealed box used to maintain constant temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide levels. This is
necessary so that the cells grow like they would in the body.
Intestinal Stem Cell:
A multipotent cell found in the intestine, giving rise to all types of cells in the gut such as enterocytes,
goblet cells, paneth cells, and endocrine cells.
Heart Disease:
A term that refers to a variety of diseases that include problems with blood vessels, such as
coronary artery disease; heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias); heart infections; and congenital heart
defects.
Heart Attack:
Death or injury to the heart muscle itself caused by obstruction in the arteries that feed blood to the
heart. Also known as a myocardial infarction.
Leukemia:
A cancer of the blood or bone marrow that results when a blood stem cell called a "blast" becomes
altered and undergoes abnormally rapid growth. This means that white blood cell blasts accumulate
in the bone marrow and interfere with the production of normal blood cells. Symptoms of leukemia
include; fatigue, bruising and bleeding, pallor, discomfort from enlarged organs, and increased rates
of infection, since the white blood cells are not functioning properly as immune cells.
Liquid nitrogen:
Nitrogen gas frozen into its liquid state, which is usually at 67 degrees Kelvin or -210 degrees
Celsius. Liquid nitrogen is a fairly inert substance and is used to freeze tissue and fluid samples
quickly, preventing the damage that often occurs when living organisms and cells are frozen slowly.
Tissue and fluid samples can be kept for months or years since the super low temperature stops the
tissue from aging.
Media (singular is medium):
A liquid or gel designed to encourage the growth of cells in a culture. The media can contain
different nutrients, enzymes or stimulants, depending on what it is designed to do.
Mesenchymal Stem Cell:
A multipotent cell (can turn into cells found in the mesoderm) found in bone marrow, cord blood,
peripheral blood, fat and fetal liver and lungs. Its primary function is to give rise to a variety of cell
types: bone cells (osteocytes), cartilage cells (chondrocytes), fat cells (adipocytes), and other kinds
of connective tissue cells such as those in tendons and ligaments.
Mesoderm:
Set of cells in the developing embryo that give rise to the skeletal muscle, the skeleton, the dermis of
skin, connective tissue, the urogenital system, the heart, blood (lymph cells), and the spleen.
Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire:
A 21 question test that patients fill out that measures their perception of the degree to which heart
failure is impacting their lives. It asks questions about the physical and emotional aspects of living
with heart failure. On this test, the lower the score, the better. Generally, 0 – 10 means the heart
failure is not impacting their lives much. Fifty or more means that the heart failure is severely
impacting all aspects of the patient's life.
Multipotent:
Stem cells that can give rise to several different types of cells, but the number is limited.
Multipotent Adult Progenitor Cells (MAPCs):
Bone marrow-derived stem cells that can differentiate into tissue cells of all 3 germinal layers:
ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. They are being used in many stem cell research projects to
help patients with a variety of conditions.
Myeloblast:
A unipotent stem cell that gives rise to white blood cells, including granulocytes, monocytes and
platelets
Myocardial Infarction:
Death or injury to the heart muscle itself caused by obstruction in the arteries that feed blood to the
heart. Also known as a heart attack.
Niches:
Places in the body where adult stem cells can be found. This microenvironment is a storage space
for stem cells and will ultimately determine what the stem cell will become. The niche contains
stimulants that either instruct the stem cell to self-maintain or turn into various cells of the organ
where the niche is located.
Neural Stem Cell:
A multipotent cell found in the brain that gives rise to nerve cells (neurons) and two categories of
glial cells - astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.
Neutrophil:
The most common type of white blood cell. They can ingest other cells and are the first immune cells
to arrive at a site of infection. Neutrophils are present in the bloodstream until signaled to a site of
infection by chemical cues in the body, arriving at the site of infection within an hour.
Osteocyte:
A mature bone cell.
Pipette:
A handheld instrument with a narrow plastic or glass tube that is marked for measuring (graduated)
and is used to transfer small amounts of liquids sometimes containing cells.
Plasmid:
A ring of DNA that will replicate within a cell independently of the chromosomal DNA. Plasmids are
most often taken from bacteria or viruses and are used in research to transfer genes between cells.
Pluripotent:
Stem cells that can generate virtually every cell type but cannot form a total organism.
Precursor:
Also known as a blast cell or simply blast, a precursor cell is a partially differentiated, usually
unipotent cell (only turns into one type of cell) that has lost most or all of the stem cell potency. It will
give rise to a particular type of cell, such as a bone cell or a fat cell.
Resting Perfusion:
Analysis of the passage of blood through the heart or a particular organ.
SDF1, or Stromal Cell Derived Factor 1:
The signal that calls adult stem cells, also known as stromal cells, to a location where damage has
occurred, to assist in repair. Once the stem cells reach the damaged area, they perform
vascularization, prevention of cell death, and differentiation into cells like the damaged tissue.
Self-renewal:
A cell that is capable of dividing and making exact copies of itself. Stem cells are capable of self
renewal, while most other types of cells are not.
Six Minute Walk Test:
A low-tech test that simply measures how far a person can walk in six minutes. Patients with the
most severe cases of heart failure might have to stop numerous times during the 6 minutes and are
monitored to make certain this isn't too stressful for the heart. Normal range for this test is 500
meters, depending on the patient's age, height, weight and gender.
Somatic stem cells:
Also known as adult stem cells – are found in both juveniles and adults, these stem cells are capable
of dividing or self-renewing indefinitely and generate all the cell types of the organ from which they
originate.
Stem cell biologist:
A scientist who works with stem cells.
Stem cell line:
A group of stem cells that have the following two traits:
1. They divide and make exact copies of themselves. This is called self-renewal.
2. They can change into distinct precursors of all sorts of different cells. This is called differentiation.
Stress Test:
A patient is required to exercise on a treadmill or exercise bike while their heart rate, blood pressure,
electrocardiogram (ECG), and symptoms are monitored..
T cell:
A type of white blood cell that has a receptor on the cell surface that recognizes other cells in the
body as belonging or being foreign. T cells are especially important in the defense against tumor
cells and pathogenic organisms inside body cells.
Totipotent:
Stem cells that can give rise to every type of cell in the body and can form an entire organism.
Embryonic stem cells are totipotent.
Unipotent:
Stem cells that generate one type of cell like bone or fat.
Vascularization:
Number of blood vessels available to help the heart tissue.