UMBILICAL CORD MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS SUPPORT CORD BLOOD HEMATOPOIESIS

摘要

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are routinely obtained from bone marrow, mobilized peripheral blood, and umbilical cord blood. Traditionally, bone marrow has been utilized as a source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). The use and expansion of umbilical cord MSC to support the growth, viability, and maintenance of cord blood derived HSC, during clonal expansion and during differentiation is demonstrated. Umbilical cord derived MSC and cord blood derived HSC are genetically matched, to improve overall expansion and utility of low volume cord blood HSC. Finally, umbilical cord MSC derived from Wharton's jelly and grown with genetically matched cord blood HSC can be used as a cellular therapeutic in the transplant setting for the treatment of malignant and non-malignant hematologic diseases.