Fetal stem cell: from research to clinical use.

ABSTRACT

The discovery of new sources of stem cells over the past few years has raised the expectation that stem cells may in the future provide new biological therapies for a number of diseases, the incredible potential for substituting damaged or lacking cells, tissues, and even organs. A number of stem cell types have been identified, including bone marrow stem cells, embryonal stem cells, and fetal stem cell including umbilical cord blood (UCB) stem cells. The UCB contains a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells that can be used to reconstitute the blood system and can easily be extracted and cryopreserved, thus allowing for the establishment of HLA-typed stem cell banks. UCB have also the potential to give rise to non-hematopoietic cells, such as bone, neural and endothelial cells.