Human cord blood hematopoietic progenitor cell

Upon collection, the blood from human umbilical cord or placenta volume reduced and partially depleted of red blood cells and plasma. The remaining cells consist of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs), monocytes, lymphocytes, and granulocytes. HPCs express the CD34 surface antigen; this allows distinct identification and characterization of those cells. With the evidence of CD34+ cells being able to engraft, CD34+ cells have been selected and widely used both for human autologous and allogeneic transplantations.

Human cord blood HPCs, that are intravenously administered, travel to the bone marrow of the transplant recipient where they undergo cell division and maturation. Mature cells are then released from the bone marrow where they enter the systemic bloodstream to circulate and travel to tissue sites. Mature cells serve to partially or fully restore hematologic function in patients with hematologic disorders by improving the counts and function of blood-borne cell, including immune cells, that originate from the bone marrow. It is also suggested that mature leukocytes from HPC transplantation may synthesize enzymes that are able to circulate and improve cellular functions of some native tissues in patients with enzymatic abnormalities arising from types of storage disorders. Clear mechanism of this effect is not fully elucidated.