title: Applications of human umbilical cord blood cells in central nervous system regeneration.
abstract: In recent decades, there has been considerable amount of information about embryonic stem cells (ES). The dilemma facing scientists interested in the development and use of human stem cells in replacement therapies is the source of these cells, i.e. the human embryo. There are many ethical and moral problems related to the use of these cells. Hematopoietic stem cells from umbilical cord blood have been proposed as an alternative source of embryonic stem cells. After exposure to different agents, these cells are able to express antigens of diverse cellular lineages, including the neural type. The In vitro manipulation of human umbilical cord blood (hUCB) cells has shown their stem capacity and plasticity. These cells are easily accessible, In vitro amplifiable, well tolerated by the host, and with more primitive molecular characteristics that give them great flexibility. Overall, these properties open a promising future for the use of hUCB in regenerative therapies for the Central Nervous System (CNS). This review will focus on the available literature concerning umbilical cord blood cells as a therapeutic tool for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Servicio Neurobiología-Investigación, Laboratorio Neurobiología Células Madre, Hospital Ramón y Cajal - SERMAS, 28034 Madrid, Spain. antonio.sanchez@hrc.es
authors.forename: Antonio S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Herranz
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gonzalo-Gobernado
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reimers
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Asensio
authors.forename: Macarena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Serrano
authors.forename: Eulalia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bazán
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D036101:Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000637:transplantation; D006801:Humans; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D055495:Neurogenesis