“University of Toronto researchers have discovered an ample source of stem cells in an uncharted part of the umbilical cord, providing new hope for bone marrow transplants and tissue repair. ”

In the human umbilical cord, the so-called “Wharton’s Jelly,” is rich in mesenchymal progenitor cells – cells that generate bone, cartilage and other tissues – which can be used to generate an abundant supply in a short time span. These progenitor cells could greatly improve the 30 to 40 per cent success rate of bone marow transplants.

Professor John Davies of U of T’s Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME) and the study’s lead author, says that the human umbilical cord perivascular (HUCPV) cells were often thrown out due to a focus on cord blood.

Bone marrow transplants, treat cancer, and immune deficiency disorders by replacing diseased cells with fresh ones found inside bones. The blood requires hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells too. Other research gives theory that infusing marrow with more mesenchymal stem cells, wil increase the transplant success rate.

“To harvest the HUCPV cells, Davies and his team split open umbilical cords and pulled out the blood vessels with their surrounding Wharton’s Jelly. (All the cords come from consenting full-term patients.) The vessels were sutured closed and suspended in collagenase, an enzyme that breaks down the Wharton’s Jelly around the vessels to release the cells inside. The HUCPV cells were then isolated and cultivated in vitro. ”

According to Davies, ” we still have some way to go until this therapy is ready for clinical trials, I am hopeful HUCPV cells could radically improve the success of bone marrow transplants…”.

Contact: J.E. Davies
davies@ecf.utoronto.ca
University of Toronto

Links:
http://news.biocompare.com/
http://news.biocompare.com/newsstory.asp?id=67174