Mesenchymal cells of umbilical cord and umbilical cord blood as a source of human oligodendrocyte progenitors.

Abstract

Human oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) could be generated from stem cells by their directed differentiation and used for curing dis/demyelinating diseases and CNS injures. However the both efficient and easily accessible stem cell sources are looked for to gain biological material for further steps of OPC derivation. The mesenchymal stem cells inhabiting compartments of umbilical cord, Wharton's jelly and blood in cord vessels, were shown to give rise to oligodendrocyte-biased cells after application of designed protocols. Here we present foregoing achievements in oligodendrocyte generation from stem cells of umbilical cord, either fresh or cryopreserved, and their utility for cellular therapies. The protocols are being gradually improved to clinical standards, i.e. towards procedures based on xeno-free chemical analogues of physiological substances, known to be engaged in OPC commitment and differentiation in vivo. The beneficial role of OPC engraftment is broad and often results in clinical improvement of animal models. There is some evidence that grafted OPCs contribute to remyelination in host. Taken together, OPC-based cellular therapies seem to be a promising therapeutic approach and cells of umbilical cord could serve as a cell source for oligodendrocyte derivation.