| Stem cells are found in all multi-cellular | | | | transplantation into injured liver, we |
| organism. They retain the ability to renew | | | | investigated the hepatic potential of |
| themselves and can differentiate into a | | | | umbilical cord blood cells both in vitro and |
| diverse range of specialised cell types. | | | | in vivo. We determined the most efficient |
| | | | conditions leading umbilical cord blood cells |
| As stem cells can be grown and transformed | | | | to produce albumin. In a novel primary |
| into specialized cells with characteristics | | | | culture system supplemented with a |
| consistent with cells of various tissues such | | | | combination of growth/differentiation |
| as muscles or nerves through cell culture, | | | | factors, about 50% of umbilical cord blood |
| their use in medical therapies has been | | | | cells in 21-day cultures expressed albumin, |
| proposed. In particular, embryonic cell | | | | and the albumin cells coexpressed hepatocyte |
| lines, autologous embryonic stem cells | | | | lineage markers. The albumin expressing cells |
| generated through therapeutic cloning, and | | | | were able to proliferate in the culture |
| highly plastic adult stem cells from the | | | | system. Moreover, in the cell-transplantation |
| umbilical cord blood or bone marrow are | | | | model into liver-injured severe combined |
| touted as promising candidates. | | | | immunodeficient mice, inoculated umbilical |
| | | | cord blood cells developed into functional |
| Human umbilical cord blood cells have many | | | | hepatocytes in the liver, which released |
| advantages as grafts for cell transplantation | | | | human albumin into the sera of the recipient |
| because of the immaturity of newborn cells | | | | mice. In conclusion, this study demonstrates |
| compared with adult cells. In contrast to | | | | that human umbilical cord blood is a source |
| their hematopoietic and mesenchymal | | | | of transplantable hepatic progenitor cells. |
| potential, it remains unclear whether | | | | Our finding may have relevance to clinical |
| umbilical cord blood cells have endodermal | | | | application of umbilical cord blood derived |
| competences. Here, with a view to utilize | | | | cell transplantation as a novel therapeutic |
| umbilical cord blood cells for cell | | | | option for liver failure. |