Clinical promise, ethical quandary

Cell phenotype analysis using a cell fluid-based microchip with high sensitivity and accurate quantitation

We have assessed a cell fluid chip-based fluorescent cytometric assay that runs on bioanalyzer for fast characterization of small population cell phenotypes characterization. The assay determines the expression of specific cell surface markers on various cell samples. Six samples can be analyzed on each chip in one automated process. Results were in good agreement with conventional flow cytometry in quantitation. Importantly, this procedure used less than 200 cells per sample and produced results consistent with that using 10(5) cells by the conventional staining procedure. The method was also used for screening potential ingredients in herbs. Purpose of this study was to analyze the change of cell subtypes of UCB mononuclear cells in vitro reactivity in herbs. We found that by treatment of the water-soluble extract (F3) of Ganoderma lucidum, the presence of CD56(+) marker (natural killer cells) significantly increased from 1.1 to 3.2% (P<0.05 and P) in UCB mononuclear cells. The results indicated that F3 quantitatively influenced NK cells activities. We suggest this screening method may be useful for a fast phenotypes characterization after extract stimulation utilizing only a small population of cells.

Ethical reappraisal of 15 years of cord-blood transplantation

Since the first successful use of cord blood as source of haemopoietic stem cells for transplantation in 1988, more than 2000 patients with malignant or non-malignant disorders have been treated with this procedure. Collection and storage of cord blood has prompted ethical considerations, mainly dealing with the issues of autonomy in making decisions about donation of cord blood, and of privacy and confidentiality in the tests required before use of placental cells for transplantation. The ethical implications of possible storage of cord-blood cells for autologous use has also been discussed. Preimplantation selection of HLA-matched embryos to obtain a donor of cells for cord-blood transplantation of a sibling with a life-threatening disease has raised the issue of the extent to which this approach complies with the principles of bioethics.

Human umbilical cord blood banking and transplantation: a state of the art

Human umbilical cord blood has proven to be a feasible alternative source of hematopoietic stem cells for pediatric and some adult patients with major hematologic disorders. This has promoted the establishment of cord blood banks for use in unrelated transplants worldwide. The banking of umbilical cord blood offers many advantages: absence of donor risk, absence of donor attrition, immediate availability, and the ability to expand available donor pools in targeted ethnic and racial minorities currently underrepresented in all bone marrow registries. Preliminary clinical experience suggests that, due to the immunological immaturity of cord blood cells, graft versus host disease might be lower than when using bone marrow from adult donors and HLA restrictions might be less stringent. Techniques to improve the efficacy of blood banks are currently under investigation. Closed cord blood collection methods have proven to be superior to open in reducing the risk of microbial contamination. Efficient banking requires volume reduction of cord blood units without significant loss of progenitor cells, in order to decrease storage space and cost, and this may be achieved by using the separation techniques. Cryopreservation and thawing techniques have been established and do not seem to affect the viability and progenitor cell recovery or the feasibility of CD34(+) selection and ex vivo expansion. Nevertheless, many scientific, ethical, and social questions have arisen in connection with cord blood banking that need to be addressed.