Cord Blood Stem Cell
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Related Keywords :
Umbilical Cord Stem Cells, Cord Blood Banking
Most people have had at least some exposure to the recent heated debates surrounding the use of human stem cells for research and treatment of disease. What individuals have had less exposure to is complete information regarding the availability of and resources for stem cells. Although we know how controversial the topic of harvesting stem cells from aborted fetuses can be, we are less aware of the alternate, and presumably less controversial, sources for stem cells. Human stem cells, in addition to being found in human bone marrow, are also found in the umbilical cord blood of newborn infants. The cord blood stem cell resource is perhaps the least known available source identified by the general public.
Stem cells found in human bone marrow have been used for years to treat diseases such as Leukemia, Lymphoma, Anemia, and Hodgkin?s disease, in addition to inherited diseases like Sickle Cell Disease and Tay Sachs Disease. Stem cells are have been successfully used to treat more than 45 different types of diseases! These cells are viable for research and treatment purposes, but there is a stark difference between the stem cells harvested from human bone marrow and the stem cells found in embryonic and fetal sources. The stem cells that are harvested from embryonic and fetal stem cell sources contain what are known as ?young? stem cells. Compared to the stem cells that are harvested from bone marrow, called ?adult? stem cells, embryonic and fetal stem cells are known to possess qualities that enable them to adapt and change more easily. The difference between the two has elicited much excitement in the realm of medical research.
Cord blood stem cells are collected after the delivery of a newborn infant. The collection process is painless for both the mother and the newborn child. Cord blood stem cell samples are collected via one of two methods. The syringe method uses a syringe to draw blood from the umbilical cord of the newborn once the child has been delivered but before the delivery of the placenta. The sample is drawn after the cord has been tied. The gravity bag method collects cord blood stem cells by allowing cord blood to drain into a collection bag. The cord blood stem cell sample is then delivered to a cord blood storage facility, generally a public or private cord blood bank, and
processed for storage.
In addition to the obvious implications of using stem cells from aborted fetuses, the use of cord blood stem cells is generally less controversial than the use of fetal stem cells because umbilical cords have traditionally been discarded as medical waste. The use of stem cells found in human bone marrow is also without controversy because bone marrow donation is obviously a voluntary process. Controversy aside, there are numerous benefits to using cord blood stem cells for research and medical treatment as opposed to using bone marrow stem cells.
Stem cells are an important resource for several reasons. The stem cells found in human bone marrow have been used for years to treat diseases such as Leukemia, Lymphoma, Anemia, and Hodgkin?s disease, in addition to inherited diseases like Sickle Cell Disease and Tay Sachs Disease. Stem cells are have been successfully used to treat more than 45 different types of diseases! These cells are viable for research and treatment purposes, but there is a stark difference between the stem cells harvested from human bone marrow and the stem cells found in embryonic and fetal sources. The stem cells that are harvested from embryonic and fetal stem cell sources contain what are known as ?young? stem cells. Compared to the stem cells that are harvested from bone marrow, called ?adult? stem cells, embryonic and fetal stem cells are known to possess qualities that enable them to adapt and change more easily.
The difference between the two has elicited much excitement in the realm of medical research. Because the immature nature of cord blood stem cells, the use of this type of stem cell is less likely to cause a life threatening disorder known as Graft vs. Host Disease. Graft vs. Host Disease is what most individuals know as rejection. This life-threatening condition occurs when the recipient?s body interprets the new product as foreign and rejects it. After the transplantation of organs or blood products, the recipient may reject the new organ or blood product.
When using bone marrow stem cells, there is a higher chance of rejection. The younger stem cells found in umbilical cord blood products are less likely to cause rejection because they are better able to adapt to their new environment. Individuals who need bone marrow transplants are likely to be unable to find the exact match they need up to 70% of the time. Because they are less likely to cause rejection, umbilical cord blood stem cells can be used more often with better results. A process known as Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) matching often hinders individuals who are in need of a bone marrow transplant. Located on the surface of each human cell are six proteins known as Human Leukocyte Antigens. Matching all six of these points on the cells of the donor with the cells of the recipient is required for a perfect bone marrow match. The fewer matched points, the less likely chance for success of a bone marrow transplant and the higher the chance for transplant rejection or GVHD. With cord blood stem cell transplants, a perfect match is not required. Because stem cells are immature, successful transplants have been performed when only three of the six proteins match. Some research has shown that the likelihood of cord blood stem cell rejection may be less than one third that of bone marrow stem cell rejection. There are however, instances where bone marrow stem cells are best suited for the treatment and should be used instead of cord blood stem cells.
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