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Mesenchymal cells are a component of many different tissues including umbilical cord blood (UCB), the umbilical cord tissue, bone marrow (BM) and adipose tissue (AT). Over the last decade there has been much interest in this cell type because of its regenerative properties.
Mesenchymal cells are capable of suppressing the immune-mediated rejection of transplanted cells and the autoimmune reaction that causes type-1 diabetes. Mesenchymal cells are also able to secrete important factors that can stimulate the body’s ability to repair itself. Mature mesenchymal cells are derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) that are found in the UCB, BM and AT. Studies have determined that MSC can be coaxed into producing bone, muscle and chondrocytes (tendons) and some studies have indicated also neural cells. Although MSC from different tissues seem to have identical properties there are differences in their ability to proliferate and in the efficiency in which they produce different cell types.
This is important when considering the therapeutic potential of MSC. For example, some studies have indicated that MSC are harvested less efficiently from UCB but they proliferate the best results for use in sufficient cells for cell-based therapy. UCB-MSC can produce bone cells and chondrocytes, but were not able to form adipose cells. Interestingly, in other studies, UCB-MSC could form neural cells. For cell therapy to be successful having enough cells for treatment is very important. In the case of UCB-MSC the therapeutic value will be in their ability modulate the immune system and to trigger the cells in damaged or diseased tissue to undergo repair. The ability UCB-MSC to proliferate also makes them a possible source of new bone, muscle and chondrocyte tissue.