It is estimated that over 10,000 people have been treated with cord blood cells since 1972. Now recognised as a lifesaving treatment, the list of things you can do with them is amazing abitha Ellem is one of over 600
and healthy ones as they have great potential
rise to specialised cell types of the tissue or
children who have been treated
to treat diseases and find cures for them.
organ they are located in. A number of adult
by umbilical cord blood and bone
Scientists are constantly trying to find new
stem cell therapies already exist; particularly
marrow transplants at the Sydney Children’s
sources of stem cells. ‘The discovery of stem
bone marrow transplants that are used to
Hospital at Randwick. When Tabitha was two,
cells was one of the most amazing breakthroughs
treat leukaemia. However adult stem cells are
she was diagnosed with Hurler’s Syndrome –
in the history of medicine,’ explains Dr Colin
believed to be more limited in the type of cells
a very rare metabolic storage disorder where
McGuckin, the Director of Cell Therapy Research
they can generate when compared to embryonic
sufferers lack an important enzyme which
Institute in Lyon, France. ‘But the real promise
and cord blood stem cells.
results in damage to soft tissue cells in the
of stem cells is to help repair your own body,
heart, brain, liver, eyes and bones. Without
something no-one could ever have imagined
Future uses
a transplant, most will die by the age of 10.
only 20 years ago. Today we see new treatments
Cord blood cells are a powerful resource,
Tabitha’s diseased white blood cells with
appearing every year. Stem cells are not only
as Drs McGuckin and Nicolas Forraz wrote in
the missing enzyme were replaced with new
about giving a cure, but also about giving a
their chapter Cord Blood Stem Cells – Potentials
healthy cells from a cord blood transplant,
better quality of life.’
And Realities for the book, Advances In Tissue
preventing further damage being done.
Engineering (Imperial College Press, $304.65)
Types of stem cells
edited by Julia Polak, Sakis Mantalaris and
been treated with cord blood cells for over 80
Stem cells fall into three categories:
Sian E Harding: With approximately 130 million
different clinical conditions since 1972. Cord
1 Embryonic stem cells These cells are
babies born worldwide every year, umbilical cord
blood can be used to treat bone marrow disorders,
derived from very young embryos and their
blood represents perhaps the largest potential
cancers, immune system disorders, blood
potentially unlimited capacity to transform into
source of stem cells for regenerative medicine.
It is estimated that over 10,000 people have
‘Stem cells are not only about giving a cure, but about giving a better quality of life’
any of the estimated 210 cell types
Cord blood stem cells are used clinically, mostly to
found in the body makes them the
support patients suffering from haematological
most “valuable” cell type. They can
and immunological diseases but they also provide
be used for almost anything. There
emerging therapeutic solutions for limited cases of
is, however, controversy around them
type-1 diabetes or infant cerebral injuries.
– extraction of embryonic stem cells
Medical researchers are therefore constantly
destroys the embryo and is therefore
working on cures and trying to find more and
shunned by opponents of abortion.
more uses for this powerful source.
2 Cord blood stem cells Cord blood is the blood that remains
In a 2007 study, researchers reported that they engineered adult stem cells derived from
in the umbilical cord and placenta after the
cord blood to produce insulin. This finding
list of treatable diseases is always increasing,
cord is cut in birth. It’s a valuable source of stem
may some day help to cure type-1 diabetes
with scientists finding new uses all the time.
cells, which are genetically unique to the baby
by allowing people to grow their own insulin-
and the babies’ family. Although embryonic
producing cells.
What are cord blood stem cells?
stem cells are more versatile, cord blood cells have the potential to form into many kinds of
to grow heart valves. According to the March
For those who, like me, don’t know much about
cells. Cord blood stem cells are eight to 10 times
of Dimes – a long-established US health charity
them, cord blood stem cells are one of three
more proliferative than adult stem cells.
whose mission is to improve the health of babies
types of stem cells. Stem cells are unspecialised
3 Adult stem cells Adult stem cells are
– heart defects are among the most common
cells that give rise to specialised cells in the body.
undifferentiated cells found in tissues or organs.
birth defects and leading cause of birth-related
They can replace diseased or bad cells with new
They can produce more stem cells and also give
deaths. When these valves are faulty they
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my child
Other recent research used cord blood cells
Photography PhotoLibrary
disorders, metabolic conditions and more. The
040 birth
Words Tatyana Leonov
my child 2
infancy
need to be replaced. Although these valves
tires easily, for the first time he can eat what he
are lifesaving, multiple surgeries are required
wants, sleep over at friends’ homes and will return
to replace valves as children grow up. German
to full-time school… with the aim of becoming an
scientists are hoping that within five to seven
electrician, wrote Cathy O’Leary in The West
years they will be able to provide new heart
Australian (December 2008).
valves that grow as the child develops, using
Private storage can be seen as a type of
stem cells that have been collected from the
insurance. ‘Although the probability of a child
child’s own cord blood.
needing to use it in early childhood is low, there
One of the most exciting studies came about
is great potential in these cells. Parents who
in 2005 when a team led by British and American
store their baby’s cord blood will be able to tap
researchers uncovered a number of stem cells in
into the future benefits of stem cell research, although research already supports the
We decided this was the best way to spend our baby bonus… It’s an insurance policy we hope never to use
use of stem cells in the treatment of heart disease, and early results from trials in the US suggest a role in treating children with cerebral palsy,’ says Dr Roisin
umbilical cord blood with characteristics similar
Deane, Marketing Manager of Cryosite.
to embryonic stem cells. These cells, named
We decided this was the best way to spend our
cord-blood-derived embryonic-like stem cells
baby bonus as my husband earns a good wage and
(CBEs) are incredibly significant. They may
we have everything we need for bub, writes Jen on
enable researchers and scientists to harness
the Bub Hub forum. We have home insurance in case
the potential of embryonic stem cells without
something goes wrong, we hope we never have to use
the ethical objections. ‘Our work showed,
it but if we do, it is there. The same with the stem cells.
categorically, that the moment of birth is critical
It’s an insurance policy that we hope we never have to
and a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to save
use but if we do, it’s there.
stem cells for later use, perhaps for your child or even someone else,’ explains Dr McGuckin, who co-led the study with Dr Forraz.
•
Resources
Useful contacts Cord blood storage Another reason why this finding is significant is because umbilical cord blood can be saved and stored without the ethical issues that face embryonic stem cell use. ‘I believe that every large metropolitan city in the world should have a cord blood bank, with all of them linked by computer across the world. Only by doing this will we be able to protect the health of our populations in the future,’ explains Dr McGuckin. In Australia cord blood can be stored in a public or private bank, though not everyone is aware of it or its potential benefits. If you donate cord blood to a public bank it can be made
• abmdr.org.au The national network of public umbilical cord blood banks and collection centres. • bubhub.com.au This site provides locations of cord blood banks, and also has an extensive forum to share thoughts and experiences on cord blood. • cryosite.com.au Cryosite provides a range of specialist services. They were also the first company to launch a private cord blood service in Australia. • sch.edu.au The Sydney Children’s Hospital at Randwick is involved with cord blood donations.
available to anyone who needs it. Ryan Lilburne from Perth was lucky enough to have cord blood stem cells donated from France last year after no suitable bone marrow donor was found. In April, the 15-year-old was given days to live but, thanks to cord blood being made available, spent Christmas at home with his family. While he is not out the woods and still
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my child
Join our online forum Are you considering banking your child’s cord blood? You can discuss this on mychildmagazine.com.au.