For over four years Cells4Life has offered the additional option of storing umbilical cord tissue stem cells alongside those found in the cord blood. But what is so special about these cells and why is it important to preserve them?
The benefits of storing umbilical cord tissue stem cells
More cell types
Cord tissue is one of the richest sources of mesenchymal stem cells available. These are the cells that are thought to have the most potential in the field of regenerative medicine.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs)
The MSCs found in the ‘Wharton’s Jelly’ are more abundant and powerful than those in the cord blood and have huge potential for use in a wide range of regenerative therapies.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20187873
Human Umbilical Cord Perivascular cells (HUCPVCs)
The perivascular cells found in the umbilical cord are being investigated for bone formation and dermal tissue engineering.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25676366
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3055644
Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs)
These cells are easy to culture and commonly used in a research setting for vascular biology – including inflammation, blood clotting and angiogenesis.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17237547
Epithelial Cord Lining Stem Cells (CLSCs)
CLSCs have proved effective in the treatment of difficult to heal human wounds such as diabetic ulcers, defects to the cornea and have demonstrated successful regeneration of the liver and heart in animal studies.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24636
Keep it in the family
Not only will the umbilical cord tissue stem cells be a 100% match to your child – they could also be match to other members of the family too.
Readily available
One of the great advantages of umbilical cord tissue stem cells is the ease by which they can be collected. In the very unlikely event that there is any difficulty with the collection of cord blood, stem cells from the umbilical cord tissue will almost certainly still be available.
“Our umbilical cord tissue samples are processed and stored exclusively by Cells4Life here in the UK”
Uses of umbilical cord tissue stem cells
Cord tissue is currently being investigated for use in the treatment of the following conditions:
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Aplastic anaemia
• Cardiomyopathy
• Cartilage repair
• Cerebral Palsy
• Connective tissue diseases
• Diabetes (type 2)
• Erectile Dysfunction
• Liver failure
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Myocardial infarction
• Osteoarthritis
• Ovarian failure
• Parkinson’s disease
• Psoriasis
• Retinitis pigmentosa
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sepsis
• Spinal cord injury
• Stroke
• Traumatic optic neuropathy
• Ulcerative colitis
• And many more…
“In 2014 Cells4Life became the first private cord blood bank to provide cord tissue for an experimental treatment of a skin condition at Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Hospital in London.”
Request a Welcome Pack
Find out more about cord blood banking by downloading a Welcome Pack now.
