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Andrew B. Kairalla MD, Editor

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Highlights from the Southeastern Association of Neonatologists Meeting at Marco Island, May 15-18, 2003

Potential Uses for Cord Blood

Cord Blood: Unwanted Material or Renewable Treasure. Presented by Dr Mervin Yoder, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis IN.

Dr Yoder explored several current and potential uses for cells obtained from umbilical cords after delivery:

1) Source of hematopoietic stem cells for allogeneic transplantation.

Ø Useful to treat cancers, marrow failure, hemoglobinopathies, inborn errors of metabolism and immunodeficiencies.

Ø Over 2000 cord blood transplants have been conducted.

Ø No risk to donor.

Ø Lower incidence and severity of Graft vs Host disease.

2) Potential source of transplantable hepatic progenitor cells.

Ø Cord blood cultures with certain growth factors will differentiate into hepatic cells that produce albumin.

Ø If transplanted into mice, these cells can develop into mature hepatocytes that elaborate human albumin into the mouse serum.

3) Potential source of neurons and glial cells.

Ø Cells from Wharton’s jelly can be induced to differentiate into neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes.

4) Alternative source of mesenchymal stem cells.

Ø Osteoblasts

Ø Smooth muscle cells

Ø Endothelial cells

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