title: [Novel uses of afterbirth tissues in regenerative medicine].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Afterbirth tissues, which include the umbilical cord, placenta, amnion, and cord blood, are usually discarded. Recent progress in regenerative medicine suggests that we re-evaluate these tissues and assess their therapeutic potential.
  
  
  METHODS
  Firstly the unique properties of afterbirth tissues and their current use in regenerative medicine are summarised. Then we introduce the cooperation of our institutions and our experiences regarding the collection and utilisation of afterbirth tissues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A literature survey suggests that besides the well-known transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells from cord blood, afterbirth tissues were also used as a source of stem cells, progenitor cells, differentiated cells, and blood vessels for tissue engineering purposes. According to our own experience, the two participating OB/GYN departments and the blood donation service were able to organise a sufficient supply of umbilical cords for research purposes. The yield correlated with incentives for the midwives. A total of more than 4,300 cords was collected for experiments designed to create small caliber vessel grafts. The contamination rate was low. Birth mode significantly affected umbilical vein function, whereas ischaemia for up to 40 h did not have any deleterious effects. Umbilical veins were cryopreserved with a moderate loss of function. Fresh umbilical veins were endothelium-denuded and reseeded with endothelial cells harvested from coronary artery disease patients to generate an autologous surface.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Afterbirth tissues have unique properties which make them ideally suited for regenerative medicine. These tissues can be procured and utilised in research facilities even in the absence of an in-house birthing centre.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Herz-, Thorax- und herznahe Gefässchirurgie, Klinikum der Universität Regensburg, Germany. markus.hoenicka@uniklinik-ulm.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoenicka
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niemeyer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bronger
authors.forename: K T M
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiechle
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Seelbach-Göbel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burkhart
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hammer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liepsch
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Birnbaum
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D036101:Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D042783:Endothelial Cells; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D005858:Germany; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D010920:Placenta; D011247:Pregnancy; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D012106:Research; D013234:Stem Cells; D014019:Tissue Donors; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000379:methods; D014470:Umbilical Cord; D014471:Umbilical Veins