Cord blood stem cell banking and transplantation

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Stem Cell Biology
• Transplant Medicine

Background:

• Cord blood is a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) with advantages over adult bone marrow or peripheral blood.
• HSCs possess self-renewal and differentiation capabilities, crucial for reconstituting the hematopoietic system.
• Cord blood transplantation reduces the risk of graft-versus-host disease and is HLA-compatible.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a Cord Blood HSC Bank through collection, separation, enumeration, and cryopreservation of HSCs.
• To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of cord blood HSC collection and processing.
• To assess the viability of HSCs after long-term cryopreservation.

Main Methods:

• Collection of 172 cord blood samples post-delivery.
• Separation and enumeration of mononuclear cells and CD34+ progenitor cells.
• Cryopreservation of HSCs and assessment of viability post-revival after one year.

Main Results:

• Average cord blood volume collected was 101.20 ml.
• Mononuclear cell counts ranged from 7.36 to 25.6 x 10^7/ml with 98.1% initial viability.
• Viability remained high at 82.1% after one year of cryopreservation.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully established a cord blood HSC bank, demonstrating efficient collection and processing.
• Cryopreservation maintains high HSC viability, ensuring their suitability for transplantation.
• Cord blood HSCs are a viable and effective source for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, particularly in children.