What are autologous cells?

Autologous cells are defined as cells that are derived from the same individual to whom they are being administered. This means that if a patient undergoes a procedure where cells are harvested, processed, and then reintroduced into their own body, those cells are considered autologous. The key benefit of using autologous cells is that there is usually a lower risk of immune rejection since the body recognizes them as its own. This concept is particularly important in treatments such as regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and certain therapies that involve stem cells. The other options, which describe cells from different species, identical twins, or global donor banks, pertain to heterologous cell sources, which do not exhibit the same compatibility advantages as those derived from the patient themselves.