Stem Cells Basic > Umbilical Cord Lining > Potential Application

Maximize the protection for banking both HSCs, MSCs and EpSCs

Minimize GvHD in Directed and Unrelated Allogenic Transplants

The rich source of EpSCs and MSCs and can be applied to chronic illnesses treatment

Potential Applications of Umbilical Cord Lining

Introducint the function of MSCs and EpSCs.

Different Between MSCs and EpSCs

Comparison between MSCs and EpSCs.

Cord Blood FAQs

Any questions? Check most asked questions by the parent.

Potential Applications of Umbilical Cord Lining

Today, more than 1,050 clinical trials are on-going worldwide to uncover the potential of MSCs. Thus far, encouraging results have been published1; stem cell treatments have been proven safe and capable of repairing damage caused by stroke and heart disease. MSCs have also been used in combination with HSCs as a dual therapy to promote faster engraftment of HSCs and to reduce immune system complications2.

Although there is evidence that MSC can change to certain types of EC (not stem cells), these cells cannot be changed into Epithelial Stem Cells (EpSCs). The difference between EpSCs and ECs is that EpSCs can differentiate into all different ECs types such as skin, cornea, lining of the gut, etc. on demand. Whereas ECs have already reached terminal differentiation so these cells cannot be further differentiated into other EC types when needed. Thus, MSC and EpSCs cannot be replaced by each other.

Potential Applications of MSCs

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Cerebral palsy and paralysis
  • Global developmental delay
  • Cardiovascular diseases(e.g. Cardiac muscle repair)
  • Orthopaedic applications(Osteoarthritis, cartilage and tendon repair)
  • Pulmonary fibrosis
  • Stroke
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Liver regeneration from liver failure
  • Shorten time of engraftment
  • Reduce immune system complications
  • Prevention and treatment of graft versus host disease (GvHD)
  • Diabetes: Type 1 and 2
  • HIV
  • Crohn’s disease

Potential Applications of EpSCs

  • Disorder of upper respiratory system (eg: Repair and regeneration of bronchial epithelium for smokers)
  • Surface ulcer (Diabetic)
  • Various types of burn
  • Tissue trauma
  • Skin wounds
  • Epidermal reconstitution
  • Liver lining
  • Pancreatic lining
  • Gastrointestinal lining
  • Corneal dermoid
  • Corneal scars and opacities
  • Corneal ulcers
  • Dry eye syndromes
  • Eye injury (eg. Chemical burn)
  • Limbal deficiency
  • Limbal corneal insufficiency syndrome
  • Ocular surface disease
  • Pterygium
  • Ocular damage due to stevens johnson syndrome
  • Macular degenerative diseases
  • Age related
  • Myopic
  • Stargardt’s macular dystrophy

Most Asked Questions by Parents Related to Cord Lining Banking

The MSCs in umbilical cord are able to minimize Graft Versus Host Disease (GvHD) in directed and unrelated allogenic cord blood transplants. It can be applied to chronic illnesses treatment,regenerative medicines as well as organ and tissue engineering. In addition, At present, there are more than 1,050 MSCs clinical trials6,7, including stroke, spinal cord, injury, diabetes and bone fractures, etc. Researches of stem cells therapy are growing worldwide, where MSCs become mainstream research topic, the researches mainly focus on malignancy(cancer), neurological, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular diseases, it demonstrates MSCs in umbilical cord can be used quite widely in medical aspect.

MSCs become the mainstream research topic for their great potential. Since no matching is required, MSCs can by used the babies, siblings, parents and even the grandparents. Therefore, parents should cryopreserve the primitive MSCs for future use.

  • Pure: Less polluted by radiation, viruses and medicines
  • Regenerative: High regenerative power
  • Easily Available: Obtain from placenta and umbilical cord, no medical risk to mother and infant
  • Ready-to-use: Immediately usable after thawed, no searching time is needed
  • Low Rejection: The recipient is at lower risk of complications by cord blood transplant, no rejection for own use and low rejection when donating to others
  • Easier to Match: No need to be perfect matched, transplant can be done when 4/6 HLA typing matched
  • Lower Cost for Collection: Cord blood belongs to the target customer, therefore no need to spend a huge amount of money for searching and purchasing

Details of banking cord blood please refer to Why Storing Cord Blood.

Cord blood and umbilical blood contain two different stem cells which are widely adopted in different medical aspects. Cord blood is a rich source of HSCs which can create the blood and immune cells. Cancers, blood-related, immunity and metabolic diseases can be treated by cord blood. Umbilical cord is a rich source of MSCs which can create structural and connective tissues. Apart from minimizing GvHD in directed and unrelated allogeneic cord blood transplants, MSCs can apply to chronic illnesses treatment, regenerative medicines as well as organ and tissue engineering. Since cord blood and umbilical cord are rich sources of different types of stem cells, they may help to repair the body in different ways.

Umbilical cord is collected after the infant leaves the mother's body and the umbilical cord is cut, so the process of cord blood collection is absolutely safe and painless for both mother and infant.

For more details please refer to Umbilical Cord Collection Procedure.

Stem cells will stop all physiological activities and remain dormant in -196℃ liquid nitrogen. Therefore, the stem cells can be permanently stored theoretically19. Professor Hal E. Broxmeyer (microbiology and immunology) is a pioneer who advocates of cord blood stem cells cryogenic storage. He proved that stem cells stored for years were still very regenerative, indicating that the stem cells stored in 1985 and 1986 could still be applied to patients for transplant33.

On the contrary, there is no factual basis for the claim of stem cells being able to store permanently under -135℃. Noted that using the vapor nitrogen storage system would cause temperature fluctuation upon stem cells storage and thawing and seriously affect the viability of all samples' stem cells.

Entrusted by most parents in Hong Kong1, Healthbaby has a very comprehensive service coverage. Apart from the traditional liquid nitrogen storage plan, HealthBaby also pioneered to provide the advanced BioArchive® System. All storage plan of HealthBaby adopts the expensive liquid nitrogen as storage medium to provide the most stable tempertature for stem cell viability, providing the most quality umbilical cord and cord blood storage service.

To cater for different needs of clients, HealthBaby's cord blood and umbilical cord storage plan have very flexible and comprehensive service plan. Regarding cord blood plan, clients could select the storage plan base on the storage and processing system needs. As for umbilical cord storage service, apart from the storage system choice, clients could also select the plan base on the processing system - keeping the different forms of cord based on budget.

The umbilical cord and cord blood service fee already includes registration fee, processing fee and 18 years storage fee, no any additional charge during the contracted year. Extra discounted would be provided for registering both umbilical cord and cord blood storage plan. HealthBaby existing customers and other cord blood bank customers could also enjoy special offers. Please contact us for deatils and any enquiries.

For more details of umbilical cord service plan please refer to Service Plan.

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