title: Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
abstract: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is becoming an effective therapeutic modality for a variety of diseases. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be used to enhance hematopoietic engraftment, accelerate lymphocyte recovery, reduce the risk of graft failure, prevent and treat graft-versus-host disease, and repair tissue damage in patients receiving HSCT. Till now, most MSCs for human clinical application have been derived from bone marrow. However, acquiring bone-marrow-derived MSCs involves an invasive procedure. Umbilical cord is rich with MSCs. Compared to bone-marrow-derived MSCs, umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UCMSCs) are easier to obtain without harm to the donor and can proliferate faster. No severe adverse effects were noted in our previous clinical application of UCMSCs in HSCT. Accordingly, application of UCMSCs in humans appears to be feasible and safe. Further studies are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Han-Ping
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chin-Kan
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Ching-Tien
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Kang-Hsi
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000166:cytology*