Science6 min read
Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Cord Tissue: What Parents Should Know
Mesenchymal stem cells are getting a lot of research attention because of their potential to repair tissues that hematopoietic stem cells can't. Here's what they do, in plain English.
What MSCs are
Mesenchymal stem cells are multipotent cells found in cord tissue, bone marrow, fat, and other tissues. They can differentiate into bone, cartilage, muscle, and fat cells, and they secrete signaling molecules that help regulate inflammation and immune response.
Why cord tissue is a popular source
A single umbilical cord can yield anywhere from 21 to 500 million MSCs. They're young, easy to expand in the lab, and don't require an invasive procedure to collect.
What's in clinical trials
- Cartilage and joint repair
- Crohn's disease and other autoimmune inflammation
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
- Heart failure following heart attack
- Graft-versus-host disease