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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
Phenotypic and Functional Characterization of Endothelial Colony Forming Cells Derived from Human Umbilical Cord Blood
Published on: April 13, 2012
Immunological characteristics of umbilical cord blood cells: phenotypic and functional analysis
E Racadot1, J P Schaal, P Van Lemmens
1Laboratoire d'Immunologie, Centre de Transfusion Sanguine, Besancon, France.
Insights
Cord blood immune cells show differences compared to adults, with lower proliferative and NK cell activity, indicating relative immaturity despite some normal-appearing assays.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Cord blood is a source of hematopoietic stem cells.
- Understanding cord blood immunological function is crucial for transplantation and regenerative medicine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To phenotype and assay the immunological function of cord blood cells.
- To compare cord blood immune cell populations and functions with adult bone marrow.
Main Methods:
- Collected 70 cord blood samples.
- Performed immunophenotyping to analyze cell populations (CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, CD20, CD56).
- Assayed immunological functions including proliferative responses to mitogens, NK activity, and cytokine secretion (IL-6, TNF-alpha).
Main Results:
- CD4-positive cells were increased, while CD19, CD20, and CD56-positive cells were decreased in cord blood compared to adult bone marrow.
- Cord blood cells exhibited lower proliferative responses to mitogens and reduced NK activity.
- Spontaneous secretion of IL-6 and TNF-alpha was lower in cord blood cells.
Conclusions:
- Cord blood immune cells display distinct cellular compositions and functional capacities compared to adult cells.
- The findings confirm the relative immaturity of cord blood immune cells, even when certain functional assays yield normal results.
- These insights are vital for optimizing the use of cord blood in clinical applications.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to phenotype and assay immunological function on cord blood from 70 samples. Immunophenotyping indicated similar numbers of CD2, 3, and 8-positive cells as in adult bone marrow. CD4-positive cells were increased and CD19, 20, and CD56-positive cells were decreased in numbers. Proliferative responses to nonspecific mitogens were lower in cord blood cells than in adult cells, as was NK activity and spontaneous secretion of IL-6 and TNF-alpha. This study confirms the relative immaturity of cord blood cells even when some functional assays appear normal.
