Just as the blood that goes through the umbilical cord provides precursor cells to treat blood disorders, the tissue of the umbilical can easily supply stem cells that could one day provide therapeutic options for muscle and bone disorders according to a new study.
In the study, Umbilical cord tissue cells were obtained from the gelatinous material in the cord known as Wharton's jelly and from blood vessel walls. These cells can be expanded to greater number, are remarkably stable and might not trigger strong immune responses, according to senior investigator Bridget M. Deasy, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Pitt School of Medicine.
"Our experiments indicate also that at least 21 million stem cells, and possibly as many as 500 million, could be banked from a single umbilical cord after the birth of a baby," said Deasy. "So, the cord could become an accessible source of a multitude of stem cells that overcome many of the restrictions, such as limited quantity as well as donor age and donor sex issues, that come with other adult stem cell populations."
Dr. Deasy and her team analyzed sections of two-foot-long human umbilical cords donated for research, looking for cells in Wharton's jelly and blood vessel walls that displayed the characteristic protein markers found in stem cells derived from other sources. The researchers then sought to find the best way to isolate the stem cells from the cords, and tested them in the lab to confirm their ability to produce specialized cells, such as bone and cartilage, while retaining their invaluable ability to renew themselves.
To build on these findings, the team will test the umbilical cord stem cells in animal models of cartilage and bone repair, as well as muscle regeneration.
Adapted from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine announcement.
Comments