Perinatal Tissue-Derived Stem Cells: Sources and Applications

All tissues in the body contain stem cells, but numbers and potency varies, decreasing as we age. Serendipitously, large numbers of multipotent stem cells are available during the perinatal period of life that can be easily harvested and stored for future use. The perinatal period encompasses week 20 of gestation up to the first 28days of life. Perinatal stem cells can be harvested from the leftover placenta, cord tissue, cord blood, Wharton’s jelly and amniotic fluid. These tissues may represent a unique fetal-like source of stem cells for use in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, without the ethical constraints associated with embryonic/fetal stem cells. It is estimated that 1 in 10 individuals could make use of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering during their lifetime. The primary uses of regenerative medicine are in orthopedics (cartilage, ligaments and tendons, articular joints), neurology (stroke, anoxia, traumatic brain injury) and cardiology (myocardial infarction, heart failure), and perinatal stem cells have shown promise in each of these areas of study. For that reason numerous clinical trials can be found focusing on each of the perinatal stem cell sources. To facilitate these efforts, cord blood and tissue banking were established. Other perinatal stem cell sources are not routinely banked for future use. Effort will be made to discuss each of the stem cell sources and the cells contained within, the methodologies used to process and bank the stem cells (if done), and the current and future clinical uses of the stem cells.