Page 21 - Regenerative Medicine - Patient Guide

UMBILICAL CORD TISSUE

Also derived from birth tissue within the
umbilical cord is the Wharton’s Jelly. Wharton's
Jelly, is the tissue surrounding the umbilical
vein and vessels in the cord. (Figure 7)

When the vessels are removed closer to the
fetal side of the cord, you have remaining
tissue which contains stem cells termed
mesenchymal stem cells or MSCs. MSCs are
undifferentiated cells (not changed) that have
the capacity to change into any specific cell
type in the body. These cells, once deployed
to any area of injury or disease, can readily
change into the cell type that is needed to repair.
Moreover, MSCs are directed to the body's cell
signals that recruit hem to the site of the injury.
Once they reach this area, they dock and begin
repairing by releasing cytokines, growth
factors and other components that are
needed in the healing process.

Derived from the maternal side of the
umbilical cord, this tissue containing up to
50 times more growth factors and other
components than the amniotic fluid. Wharton’s
Jelly products are especially beneficial for
patients over forty that, due to the aging
process, have less viable cells than a younger
patient would have. (Figure 8)

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