Improving the Yield of Cord Blood Stem Cells

Improving the Yield of Cord Blood Stem Cells

A HealthDay News article printed on the Forbes website reports that researchers at the University of Toronto have found a way to increase the growth of stem cells in umbilical cord blood. Differentiated cells in cord blood secrete cytokines, which inhibit the growth of stem cells; the researchers removed the differentiated cells, leaving more room for stem cells to proliferate.

The press release from the University adds that the researchers have developed a so-called “bioreactor,” which allows cells to grow in a closed environment and remain uncontaminated. The team hopes to move to clinical trials within a year.

Cord blood does not produce many blood stem cells, rarely enough to treat an adult. So for cord blood to be a viable treatment option, there needs to be a way for the stem cells to safely proliferate to the needed levels prior to transfusion.

While this research is promising, it shows why stem cell research needs to proceed on multiple fronts, rather than having any area shut down.