Transplantation

Definition

Transplantation is the process of transferring cells, tissues, or organs from one site to another. It is commonly used to replace damaged or failing organs in patients.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The major types of organ transplantation include kidney, liver, heart, lung, and pancreas transplants.
2. Rejection is a significant risk in transplantation due to the immune system recognizing the transplanted organ as foreign.
3. Immunosuppressive drugs are used to prevent rejection by inhibiting the immune response.
4. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) can occur in bone marrow transplants when donor cells attack the recipient's body.
5. Histocompatibility testing is crucial for matching donors and recipients to minimize the risk of rejection.

Review Questions

• What are the main immunological challenges associated with organ transplantation?
• How do immunosuppressive drugs work to prevent organ rejection?
• What is graft-versus-host disease and in which type of transplantation is it most commonly observed?

Related terms

Immunosuppression: The reduction of immune system activity to prevent rejection of transplanted organs.

Histocompatibility: The compatibility between the tissues of different individuals, important for successful transplantation.

Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD): A condition where donor immune cells attack the recipient's tissues after a bone marrow transplant.