Stem cells – gateway to 21st century medicine

Glossary

dopamine. A brain neurotransmitter (a chemical that carries messages between brain cells). In people with Parkinson's disease, their dopamine-producing cells degenerate causing loss of normal muscle function.

immune rejection. Can occur as a result of a transplant when the donor type of cell or organ is not a close enough match to the recipient type. Drugs to suppress the patient's immune system help reduce this problem. For more information see Transplant rejection (Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia, US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health).

insulin. A hormone produced by special cells in the pancreas. Insulin allows glucose to enter the body's cells, where it is used as an energy source. In type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes) the body does not produce insulin, causing glucose to build up in the blood, giving high blood sugar levels. Type 1 diabetics can't make their own insulin so they must inject it every day. For more information see Type 1 diabetes (Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia, US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health).

mesenchymal stem cell. A type of adult stem cell found in bone marrow that gives rise to a number of different kinds of cells (eg, bone cells and fat cells). They are also known as bone marrow stromal cells. For more information see Mesenchymal stem cells (International Society for Stem Cell Research).

placenta. A temporary organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy. It provides nutrients for the fetus and eliminates its waste products.

pluripotent stem cell. A stem cell able to give rise to almost all cell types in the body. There are also two other types of stem cell: totipotent and multipotent. A totipotent cell has the ability to give rise to all cell types, while multipotent cells can only differentiate into a limited range of cell types. For more information see Saving Superman: A look into stem cell research (National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, USA).

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Page updated October 2009.