Adult Stem Cells

Today there is evidence that stem cells are present in far more tissues and organs than was previously suspected, and that these cells are capable of developing into more kinds of cells than once thought. Each tissue contains several different types of stem cells, and when that particular tissue is damaged, the stem cells act in a concerted manner to regenerate damaged tissue and regenerate and populate new blood vessels. This makes the tissue repair sustainable.

Adult stem cells share at least two characteristics with all other stem cells, namely that they can:

  1. Proliferate for long periods of time referred to as long-term self-renewal
  2. Give rise to a limited range of mature or somatic, cell types with specialised functions. In this respect they are less plastic than embryonic stem cells, but this makes them easier and safer to use therapeutically.

Adult stem cells are rare. It is estimated that between 1 in 10 000 to 1 in 15 000 cells in the bone marrow is a haemopoietic (blood forming) stem cell (HSC). In the bone marrow only 1:100 000 cells is a MSC. The primary function of adult stem cells are to maintain the steady state functioning or turnover of tissue and, with limits, replace cells that die because of injury or disease.

Adult stem cells, while dispersed in tissues throughout the mature body, behave differently depending on their local environment, for example stem cells in the bone marrow will differentiate into mature types of blood cells and those in the pancreas will differentiate into pancreatic cells. Such stem cells are known as progenitor stem cells. These cells have a very low cellular plasticity. In contrast stem cells in the small intestine are stationary and are physically separated from the mature cell types they generate.

While much is known about adult stem cells, considerable research still needs to be done around the question of plasticity.

Storing umbilical cord stem cells is an insurance policy for the unlikely event your child becomes ill with a condition treatable with cord blood stem cells.
Cord blood is a rich source of stem cells 'the building blocks of life' which parents are increasingly choosing to store on behalf of their children.