Could cells from menstrual blood be a new source for cell-based therapies?
Human endometrium is a highly regenerative tissue and contains a low number of cells which have high replicative ability and differentiation efficiency. This has been identified by many scientists. When the fresh growth of tissue and blood vessels is shed during each menstrual cycle, some cells with regenerative capabilities are present. Reports have also indicated that these cells possess the capacity to trans-differentiate into mesodermal, ectodermal and endodermal lineages by using standard commercially available culture reagents and methodologies. Given the ease of extraction and pluripotency of this cell population, we propose it as a novel alternative to current cells sources for cell-based therapies.
Zhang
Man-Jing
MJ
Division of Plastic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China.
Liu
Bin
B
Xia
Wei
W
Sun
Zhi-Yong
ZY
Lu
Kai-Hua
KH
D001773:Blood Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008598:Menstruation / Q000097:blood*