Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Research Facts

Stem cells have the potential to treat leukemia and other.
Umbilical cord stem cell research facts. For about two decades doctors have used umbilical cord stem cells to research and treat a number of life threatening illnesses. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent meaning they can generate all of the body s cell types but cannot generate support structures like the placenta and umbilical cord. Umbilical cord tissue contains stem cells that have the ability to regenerate and change into different types of cells such as cartilage bone fat and muscle. Cord stem cells cordscs found in umbilical cord are the new darlings of stem cell scientists due to their regenerative potential.
Now much effort is devoted to raising public awareness and to encouraging people to store or donate cord blood. These are called mesenchymal stem cells and within days after the infusion the patients who needed 100 oxygen on ventilator support saw their requirement slashed in half. Umbilical cord blood was once discarded as waste material but is now known to be a useful source of blood stem cells. Cord blood has been used to treat children with certain blood diseases since 1989 and research on using it to treat adults is making progress.
Obama executive order lifts strict limits on stem cell research darren umbilical cord stem cells are similar to those found in mature or adult stem cells. The patients were suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome or ards and doctors infused them intravenously with cells derived from the lining of umbilical cords. The umbilical cord fluid is loaded with stem cells. They can treat cancer blood diseases like anemia and some immune system disorders which disrupt your body s ability to defend itself.
In 2006 researchers at newcastle university england created the first artificial liver cells using umbilical cord blood stem cells. These cells were derived from umbilical cord blood and according to the researchers their ability to differentiate was greater than that of adult stem cells. Through cord blood banking parents have the option of storing the cells so that they can help someone who needs them potentially even your own baby. Early results of trials 1 in the field of stem cell research are reported to be promising.
Other cells are multipotent meaning they can generate a few different cell types generally in a specific tissue or organ. Prior to the discovery of ucb stem cells it was standard procedure to discard the umbilical cord and placenta. Researchers believe that cord stem cells may help to treat various conditions such as.