Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026
07:29
Generation of Neural Stem Cells from Discarded Human Fetal Cortical Tissue
Published on: May 25, 2011
Discarded stem cells with a future?
1Bone Marrow and Haematopoietic Cell Transplant Program, Tufts School of Medicine, Tufts-New England Medical Center, 750 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy
|January 17, 2007
Summary
Perinatal stem cells from umbilical cord and placenta show high plasticity for tissue generation. These cells, often discarded, offer a promising alternative to embryonic stem cells for regenerative medicine applications.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Stem Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Embryonic stem cells offer potential for tissue generation but face ethical considerations.
- Mesenchymal stem cells from adult tissues have limited plasticity.
- Extra-embryonic perinatal tissues are typically discarded after birth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of perinatal stem cells for tissue generation.
- To compare the plasticity of perinatal mesenchymal stem cells with postnatal mesenchymal stem cells.
- To explore the use of nuclear reprogramming for directing perinatal stem cell development.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and characterization of mesenchymal stem cells from perinatal tissues (umbilical cord, placenta).
- Assessment of stem cell plasticity and differentiation potential.
- Analysis of transcriptional gene expression.
- Evaluation of nuclear reprogramming techniques.
Main Results:
- Perinatal stem cells exhibit early mesenchymal characteristics and high plasticity.
- These cells express specific early transcriptional genes.
- Nuclear reprogramming can potentially direct their development into embryonic-like tissues.
Conclusions:
- Perinatal stem cells represent a valuable, underutilized source for regenerative medicine.
- Their inherent plasticity and responsiveness to reprogramming suggest broad applications in tissue engineering.
- Utilizing these discarded tissues could revolutionize future therapeutic strategies.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Stem Cell Culture
Stem cell research aims to find ways to use stem cells to regenerate and repair cellular damage. Over time, most adult cells undergo the wear and tear of aging and lose their ability to divide and repair themselves. Stem cells do not display a particular morphology or function. Adult stem cells, which exist as a small subset of cells in most tissues, keep dividing and can differentiate into a number of specialized cells generally formed by that tissue. These cells enable the body to renew and...
00:58Embryonic Stem Cells
Embryonic stem (ES) cells are undifferentiated pluripotent cells, meaning they can produce any cell type in the body. This gives them tremendous potential in science and medicine since they can generate specific cell types for use in research or to replace body cells lost due to damage or disease.
00:57Embryonic Stem Cells
Embryonic stem (ES) cells were first discovered in mice in 1981 by Martin Evans. In 1998, James Thomson identified a method to isolate embryonic stem cells from humans. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are obtained from 3-5 day old embryos that remain unused after an in vitro fertilization procedure.
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...
01:22iPS Cell Differentiation
The ability of induced pluripotent stem cells or iPSCs to differentiate into most body cell types has stimulated repair and regenerative medicine research over the past few decades. iPSC-derived blood cells, hepatocytes, beta islet cells, cardiomyocytes, neurons, and other cell types can repair injuries or regenerate damaged tissue in diseases such as diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders.
01:21Stem Cell Therapy for Tissue Regeneration
Stem cell therapy is a method used in regenerative medicine to repair and restore function to damaged tissues and organs. Stem cells have the potential to proliferate and differentiate into various tissue types, making them ideal candidates for tissue regeneration. For example, hematopoietic stem cell transplants are commonly used in blood cancer treatment to replenish damaged bone marrow and restore healthy blood cells.
Types of Stem Cells used in Stem Cell Therapy
The two main cell types that...
Types of Stem Cells used in Stem Cell Therapy
The two main cell types that...
01:13Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different types of cells. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are post-mitotic—that is, they no longer divide. However, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they “de-differentiate” and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are also pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are therefore called induced pluripotent stem...