Umbilical cord stem cells are present within the cord that connects a newborn to its mother and uses of these birth cells include treating cancers, diseases, injuries, and more. Umbilical cord blood contains hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are multipotent stem cells that can give rise to other blood and immune system cells.
Stem cells can also be collected from a newborn’s:
- Umbilical cord tissue (Wharton’s jelly)
- Placenta
- Amnion
Most commonly, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from cord blood are used to treat blood cancers, such as leukemia. When compared to hematopoietic stem cells from genetically matched bone marrow donor, cord blood HSCs may provide some medical advantages, including fewer immune system complications, such as graft-versus-host disease (GvHD).
In recent years, regenerative medicine has continued to increase the list of medical uses for stem cells from umbilical cord. Find out more about current and future uses of umbilical cord stem cells below.
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