Syngeneic

Syngeneic is a term used in transplantation and genetics to refer to genetically identical organisms. It is most commonly used in reference to transplant donors and recipients who are genetically identical, such as identical twins.

Overview

Syngeneic transplants, also known as identical twin or isogeneic transplants, are a type of allogeneic transplant. This means that the donor and recipient are different individuals, but they share the same genetic makeup. This is possible in the case of identical twins, who are genetically identical because they are derived from the same fertilized egg.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The main advantage of syngeneic transplants is that there is no risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a potentially serious complication of allogeneic transplants. This is because the donor's cells are not recognized as foreign by the recipient's immune system.

However, syngeneic transplants also have disadvantages. One is that they do not provide the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect, which can help to prevent recurrence of the disease in patients with leukemia. Another disadvantage is that identical twins are relatively rare, so this type of transplant is not an option for most patients.

Applications

Syngeneic transplants are used in the treatment of certain types of cancer, including some forms of leukemia and lymphoma. They may also be used in research, for example in studies of immune response or genetic disease.

See also

• Allogeneic
• Autologous
• Transplant rejection
• Graft-versus-host disease

Syngeneic Resources
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