umbilical cord blood (Duke University Medical Center)

Umbilical cord blood is the blood that remains in the placenta and umbilical cord after childbirth. It is a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are capable of regenerating the entire blood and immune system. These stem cells can differentiate into red and white blood cells as well as platelets. Cord blood has been used for over 30 years in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to treat more than 80 diseases, including various cancers (such as leukemia and lymphoma), anemias (like sickle cell anemia and aplastic anemia), inherited metabolic disorders, immune deficiencies, and other life-threatening conditions[1][4][7][8]. Cord blood transplantation offers advantages over bone marrow transplants because it requires less stringent donor-recipient matching due to its immunological tolerance[1]. In addition to established uses in transplant medicine, umbilical cord blood is being researched for regenerative medicine applications such as treatment of cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, tissue injuries, degenerative diseases (e.g., osteoarthritis), neurodegenerative disorders, autoimmune diseases, stroke recovery, and more[1][3][5][6]. The mechanism of action primarily involves engraftment of HSCs that reconstitute hematopoiesis or modulate immune responses; additional effects may be mediated by cytokines or growth factors present in the graft.

Other names

cord bloodumbilical cord stem cellsUCB