Stem Cells Basic > Umbilical Cord Lining > What is Cord Lining?

Should parents save children’s umbilical cord lining?

Minimize GvHD in Directed and Unrelated Allogenic Transplants

The rich source of EpSCs and MSCs and can be applied to chronic illnesses treatment

What is Umbilical Cord Lining?

Introduce EpSCs and MSCs and it functions.

Merits of Umbilical Cord Lining

Most pure stem cells and only one chance to collect during delivey.

Umbilical Cord Lining FAQs

Any questions? Check most asked questions by the parent.

What is Cord Lining?

Cord Lining contains a high numbers of Epithelial Stem cells (EpSCs) and Mesenchymal (MSCs) stem cells which have shown immense potential in aiding the repair of injured tissues and organs and the treatment of various diseases. EpSCs form the soft tissues that connect, support, or surround other structures and organs of the body including cornea, skin, and liver. MSCs are the building blocks of structural tissues of our body such as bone, cartilage, muscle, fibrous tissues and fat. Scientist believe that the cord lining also contains other types of cells which may be useful but have yet to be discovered.

Although the research in umbilical cord EpSCs and MSCs are relatively late compared with cord blood , there are more than 980 clinical trials underway using the same type of cell(primarily from bone marrow)6,7. Researchers believe that EpSCs and MSCs may help to treat various conditions such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart failure, liver damage, and bone fractures in the future. Research showed that MSCs can regulate for immune response and spark body’s regenerative machinery.

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Most Asked Questions by Parents Related to Cord Lining Banking

Why storing umbilical cord?

The MSCs in umbilical cord are able to minimize Graft Versus Host Disease (GvHD) in directed and unrelated allogenic 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 1,050 MSCs clinical trials6,7, including stroke, spinal cord, injury, diabetes and bone fractures, etc. Researches of stem cells therapy are growing worldwide, where MSCs become mainstream research topic, the researches mainly focus on malignancy(cancer), neurological, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular diseases, it demonstrates MSCs in umbilical cord can be used quite widely in medical aspect.

MSCs become the mainstream research topic for their great potential. Since no matching is required, MSCs can by used the babies, siblings, parents and even the grandparents. Therefore, parents should cryopreserve the primitive MSCs for future use.

  • Pure: Less polluted by radiation, viruses and medicines
  • Regenerative: High regenerative power
  • Easily Available: Obtain from placenta and umbilical cord, no medical risk to mother and infant
  • Ready-to-use: Immediately usable after thawed, no searching time is needed
  • Low Rejection: The recipient is at lower risk of complications by cord blood transplant, no rejection for own use and low rejection when donating to others
  • Easier to Match: No need to be perfect matched, transplant can be done when 4/6 HLA typing matched
  • Lower Cost for Collection: Cord blood belongs to the target customer, therefore no need to spend a huge amount of money for searching and purchasing

Details of banking cord blood please refer to Why Storing Cord Blood.

What is the difference between cord blood and umbilical cord?

Cord blood and umbilical blood contain two different stem cells which are widely adopted in different medical aspects. Cord blood is a rich source of HSCs which can create the blood and immune cells. Cancers, blood-related, immunity and metabolic diseases can be treated by cord blood. Umbilical cord is a rich source of MSCs which can create structural and connective tissues. Apart from minimizing GvHD in directed and unrelated allogeneic cord blood transplants, MSCs can apply to chronic illnesses treatment, regenerative medicines as well as organ and tissue engineering. Since cord blood and umbilical cord are rich sources of different types of stem cells, they may help to repair the body in different ways.

How does the O&G doctor collects umbilical cord?

Umbilical cord is collected after the infant leaves the mother's body and the umbilical cord is cut, so the process of cord blood collection is absolutely safe and painless for both mother and infant.

For more details please refer to Umbilical Cord Collection Procedure.

Can the cord blood and umbilical cord be stored permanently?

Stem cells will stop all physiological activities and remain dormant in -196℃ liquid nitrogen. Therefore, the stem cells can be permanently stored theoretically19. Professor Hal E. Broxmeyer (microbiology and immunology) is a pioneer who advocates of cord blood stem cells cryogenic storage. He proved that stem cells stored for years were still very regenerative, indicating that the stem cells stored in 1985 and 1986 could still be applied to patients for transplant33.

On the contrary, there is no factual basis for the claim of stem cells being able to store permanently under -135℃. Noted that using the vapor nitrogen storage system would cause temperature fluctuation upon stem cells storage and thawing and seriously affect the viability of all samples' stem cells.

How much does the umbilical cord storage service charge?

Entrusted by most parents in Hong Kong1, Healthbaby has a very comprehensive service coverage. Apart from the traditional liquid nitrogen storage plan, HealthBaby also pioneered to provide the advanced BioArchive® System. All storage plan of HealthBaby adopts the expensive liquid nitrogen as storage medium to provide the most stable tempertature for stem cell viability, providing the most quality umbilical cord and cord blood storage service.

To cater for different needs of clients, HealthBaby's cord blood and umbilical cord storage plan have very flexible and comprehensive service plan. Regarding cord blood plan, clients could select the storage plan base on the storage and processing system needs. As for umbilical cord storage service, apart from the storage system choice, clients could also select the plan base on the processing system - keeping the different forms of cord based on budget.

The umbilical cord and cord blood service fee already includes registration fee, processing fee and 18 years storage fee, no any additional charge during the contracted year. Extra discounted would be provided for registering both umbilical cord and cord blood storage plan. HealthBaby existing customers and other cord blood bank customers could also enjoy special offers. Please contact us for deatils and any enquiries.

For more details of umbilical cord service plan please refer to Service Plan.

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