Umbilical cord blood derived cell expansion: a potential neuroprotective therapy

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is a valuable source of stem and progenitor cells, known for their ability to promote blood vessel formation, regenerate nerve tissue, and regulate the immune system. These properties make UCB a potential treatment for various conditions, including blood disorders, metabolic issues, and neurological problems. However, a significant obstacle to using UCB in clinical settings is the limited number of cells in some samples. To overcome this, researchers are exploring ways to expand UCB cells in the laboratory, particularly focusing on CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are primarily used to treat blood-related conditions. Outside of blood-related research, expanded UCB has shown promise in preclinical studies for spinal cord injury and hind limb ischemia, demonstrating neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and angiogenic properties. This review will focus on the use of expanded UCB-derived HSCs in transplant medicine and explore their potential as a therapy for neurological conditions.

• 1
  Expanded UCB cells are safe and feasible for treating haematological malignancies, showing greater engraftment potential than unexpanded UCB.
• 2
  Proteomic analysis of expanded UCB cells demonstrated neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and angiogenic properties, supported by in vitro studies showing increased gene expression of neurotrophic and angiogenic factors.
• 3
  Preclinical evidence suggests that unexpanded CD34+ cells are a promising therapy for neurological conditions, improving multiple indices of injury in rodent models of stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.