Cord blood, once discarded as
medical waste has gained life-saving status these days. Blood present in the
umbilical cord and placenta is a rich source of stem cells. No need to repeat
the spiel about the benefits of stem cells. Also known as master cells, these
units are considered as the building blocks of human body. They are capable of dividing and renewing
themselves. Though they are unspecialised, these cells can give rise to specialised
tissues and cell types. These are some of the significant properties that make
stem cells unique. When scientists discovered the abundant presence of stem
cells in the umbilical cord tissue and
cord blood, it was a milestone in the field of regenerative medicine research. Currently,
cord blood stem cells are used to
treat more than 80 life threatening conditions whereas the clinical application
of umbilical cord tissue is yet
under the experimental stage.
Cord blood or CB contains blood-forming
haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and cord tissue contains mesenchymal stem
cells. Blood-forming stem cells of CB are used for transplant procedure of
leukaemia patients. Some of the major diseases that can be treated with cord
blood include leukaemia, blood and bone marrow disorders, cancer and immune
deficiencies. Cord blood stem cell transplants
are a great alternative to the bone marrow transplants. Ongoing research and
advancements have made the cord blood
banking and treatments more popular and affordable.
Number of expectant parents
opting for the private cord blood banking is rising. Majority of them bank their newborn’s CB as a type of
health insurance for the child and family. On the other hand, parents who can’t afford to
bank their baby’s CB may think about donating it to a public cord bank. Stem
cells donated to the public bank are not only used for life-saving transplants,
but also for research and clinical trials.
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