The endless potential of the umbilical cord blood for investigation, research and treatment

Zisovska, Elizabeta (2015) The endless potential of the umbilical cord blood for investigation, research and treatment. In: International Symposium at Faculty of Medical Sciences “Current achievements and future perspectives in medical and biomedical research”, 24 Nov 2015, Stip, Macedonia.

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Abstract

The umbilical cord is not only tissue, but a whole organ connecting mother and fetus. Many of the UCB features can be used for research and therapeutic purposes, because of the following properties: biochemical analysis of blood gasses, full blood count, bilirubin; testing for abnormalities in 24-32 gestational week;catheterization of the cord blood vessels is the best way to reach neonatal circulation, and can be used as a route for venous catheter (infusion and medication, performing blood exchange in hemolytic disease of the newborn); immunological analysis for determination of the blood group, Rhesus factor, etc.; delayed cord clamping can prevent from anemia of prematurity and therefore improving their health status.UCB has become a new obstetrical trend. It means that the UCB, a once discarded material, is an organ that could be transplanted to either oneself or to another recipient, because of the relative immaturity compared to adult cell sources, having higher proportion of immature T-lymphocytes and decreased numbers of mature memory T-lymphocytes. UCB cells also produce fewer absolute levels of cytokines than adult cell sources. This lack of mature immune function is attributed to UCB’s low incidence of Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD) and viral transmission. Such cellular constitution could allow for less stringent donor–recipient matching requirements, hence leading to shorter waiting period for treatment. UCB contains a large population of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells compared to adult sources. These easily procured, low immunogenic sources of multipotential cells are thought to have the capability to become any type of cell in the body under specific conditions. The non-hematopoietic stem cell, the mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) can give rise to such diverse phenotypes as osteoblasts, chondroblasts, adipocytes, and hematopoietic and neural cells (astrocytes and neurons) because they are multipotent. The advantages of the UCB compared to bone marrow in treatment of leukemia and other diseases mainly are the following: no risk or discomfort to donors, lower incidence of viral contamination (38.2%) compared to BM, able to be stored at cryogenic temperatures indefinitely without significantly affecting cell viability, immediately available and easily shipped and many others.There is a high immune toleranceof UCB cells because they are unable to generate cytotoxic T-Lymphocytes, which respond to allogenic antigens.The most recent researches on animals have demonstrated UCB’s growth as a multidimensional treatment, mostly as a neurotrophic, neuroprotective,and anti-inflammatory agent. But, besides many advantages, there are some hazardous effects of the UBC. In multiple American and international studies,cancer-causing chemicals have been found in the blood of umbilical cords. These originate from certainplastics, computer circuit boards, fumes and synthetic fragrances. Over 300 toxic chemicals have been found, including bisphenol, tetrabromobisphenol A teflon-related perfluorooctanoic galaxolide, and many other air pollutants among others.
26The research will never come to its end, because the umbilical cord is one of the most unexplored organ, and on the other hand, the most harmless target organ for research.Keywords:umbilical cord, blood, research

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Lecture)
Subjects:	Medical and Health Sciences > Clinical medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Medical Science
Depositing User:	Elizabeta Zisovska
Date Deposited:	01 Nov 2018 12:49
Last Modified:	01 Nov 2018 12:49
URI:	https://eprints.ugd.edu.mk/id/eprint/20542

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