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UMBILICAL CORD STEM CELLS - A REALITY TODAY, A FUTURE FULL OF POSSIBILITIES
MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS
UMBILICAL CORD TISSUE
The Tissue that surrounds the umbilical vein and arteries, called Wharton's Jelly, is an incredibly rich source of
Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), a different type of Stem Cell that has become the Future of Regenerative
Medicine.
While HSCs can only specialize into Blood Cells, MSCs are capable of specialising into many different Cell types
such as Heart Cells, Cartilage Cells, Neurons and many others.
These Stem Cells can be found in different parts of the human body such as fat tissue and bone marrow.
Wharton's Jelly is also a rich source of MSCs which is easily collected at birth.
Current Use of MSCs: Combined with Haematopoietic Stem Cells they have been shown to reduce the severity
of Graft vs. Host Disease, improve engraftment of transplants and achieve a better regeneration of bone marrow.
Future Use of MSCs: Given their immense capability to differentiate into many different Cell types and to
regenerate different tissues and organs, MSCs are the core of all investigations in Regenerative Medicine,
aiming to regenerate tissues that can't self-regenerate such as cartilage, bone or neurons.
The Future
of Regenerative
Medicine
Muscle
Cells
Nerve
Cells
Bone and
Cartilage Cells
Epithelial
Cells
Pancreatic and
Liver Cells
Heart
Cells
Lung
Cells
MSC
