Today, more than 1,000 clinical trials are on-going worldwide to uncover the potential of MSCs. Thus far, encouraging results have been published1; stem cell treatments have been proven safe and capable of repairing damage caused by stroke and heart disease. MSCs have also been used in combination with HSCs as a dual therapy to promote faster engraftment of HSCs and to reduce immune system complications2.
Although there is evidence that MSC can change to certain types of EC (not stem cells), these cells cannot be changed into Epithelial Stem Cells (EpSC). The difference between EpSC and EC is that EpSC can differentiate into all different EC types such as skin, cornea, lining of the gut, etc. on demand. Whereas ECs have already reached terminal differentiation so these cells cannot be further differentiated into other EC types when needed. Thus, MSC and EpSC cannot be replaced by each other.
Types of Stem Cells |
Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) |
Epithelial Stem Cells (EpSCs) |
|---|---|---|
| Potential Treatment for |
Tissue repair
Hscs Engraftment Support
Immune modulation
|
Wounds/soft tissue repair
Organ Lining Regeneration
Eye Conditions
|
Umbilical cord is the tube connecting the fetus and placenta. It contains rich sources of, Epithelial Stem Cells (EpSCs), Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) and able to differentiate into various tissues and organ cells, including cardiac, nerve, cartilage / bone, muscle and epithelial cells etc. Researches showed that MSCs can stimuate body's regeneration and the reaction of immune system It's a multi-potential cell.
The EpSCs and MSCs in umbilical cord are able to minimize Graft Versus Host Disease (GvHD) in directed and unrelated allogeneic cord blood transplants. It can be applied to chronic illnesses treatment, regenerative medicines as well as organ and tissue engineering. In addition, At present, there are more than 980 EpSCs and MSCs clinical trials6,7, including Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, liver cirrhosis,diabetes, spinal cord injury and bone fractures, etc.
Umbilical cord lining collection will be performed after collecting cord blood by Obstetrics & Gynaecology doctors. Certainly, the process is absolutely safe and painless for both mother and infant.
At present, there are more than 980 MSCs clinical trials6,7, which can be classified as Auto-immune Diseases, Cardiovascular, Neurologic Disorder, Orthopedic and Gene Therapy for Inherited Disorders etc.
