stem cell technology
HLA Typing
HLA typing and its importance
Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) typing is a testing process that is used to match patients and donors for core blood and bone marrow transplants.
HLA antigens are proteins found in most cells in our body. Our immune system uses these proteins or markers to recognize which cells belong in our body and which do not. If the immune system determines a cell as not belonging to the body, the cell is attacked. Thus, HLA typing is done to reduce the risk of the transplanted stem cell being attacked by the immune system of the recipient. A close match between the patient’s HLA antigens and the donor’s can reduce the risk of the patient’s immune cells attacking the donor’s cells or vice versa. HLA typing is usually done for all allogenic transplants, using a blood sample.
HLA typing for Stem Cell Transplants
There are 6 HLA markers that are matched. For the successful transplant, at least 4 of these 6 markers must match. In some cases even a 3/6 match has been successful.
Relationship |
Chances of matching |
Sibling-Sibling |
25% |
Parent-Child |
50% |
Cousins |
6.25% |
Advantages of HLA Typing
- * Promotes Engraftment
- * Reduces the risk of Graft – Versus – Host – Disease (GVHD)
Types of Stem Cell Therapy
- * Bone Marrow Stem Cell Therapy
- * Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cell Therapy
- * Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Therapy