Understanding all the hype surrounding stem cell research can be confusing. What’s all the fuss about and what does a newborn’s umbilical cord have to do with it?
The blood within a newborns umbilical cord, called cord blood, plays a critical role in stem cell research. This blood contains important blood cells, known as hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), and these blood cells are the target of the research and controversy. (1)
HSC’s contain cellular components of cells used within our body. The body’s ability to create a stable, constant environment is known as homeostasis. HSC’s from cord blood are able to become whatever cell is most needed to create that balance within the body, and there are three very important blood cell lineages that can be produced from the HSC’s in cord blood. (2)
The erythroid cells are red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body, the lymphoid cells produce infection fighting cells such as T and B cells, which are essential to the immune system, and the myeloid cells are bone marrow derived blood cells that contribute to the immune system and supply platelets, which promotes blood clotting.(3)
Because cord blood is rich is HSC’s, understanding their ability to become different cells is a major factor in helping to promote cures for a multitude of medical research and treatments. For example, hematopoietic stem cells can become the required cells needed to promote healing and prevent rejection of newly transplanted organs. This base cell becomes what the body needs at that moment, in just the right quantities.
In cancer patients, such as those with leukemia, the introduction of HSC’s into the body may rapidly produce healthy cells that can replace destroyed cells from chemotherapy and/or hopefully prevent infections that often create complications or even death, during the treatment process.
Currently, research from cord blood is being used to treat diseases once thought beyond the scope of permanent cure. Parkinson’s disease and diabetes, along with AIDS, cancers and genetic diseases are all thought to have hope within cord blood and the vast supply of HSC’s contained therein.
By collecting and researching cord blood, understanding its role and ability to produce whatever the body needs in the quantities needed, and at just the right time, has the potential of unlocking lifesaving information that can result in millions of lives saved.
Although much is yet unknown, cord blood may hold the key that can unlock doors leading to prevention, cures and healthy lives that have, thus far, been evasive for patients, doctors and researchers worldwide.
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