The placenta is a complex organ that performs vital functions during pregnancy It not only ensures a basic connection between a mother and the baby, but also plays an active role in the harmonic growth and development of the baby during pregnancy. Studies and research have provided convincing evidence that the placenta has significant value and may also be used after delivery.
The placenta, a unique source of cell populations, may be readily used after birth, namely for:
- Collection of cord blood from veins close to the superficial placental veins – it contains rare haematopoietic stem cells that may be used in the standard treatment of dozens of serious diseases, as well as in regenerative medicine, the same as in the case of blood from the umbilical cord. The combination of these two sources may ensure a sufficient number of haematopoietic stem cells for multiple use
- Collection of the whole placental tissue – it contains several types of cells, in particular, haematopoietic stem cells, progenitor stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, trophoblast stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells. Research is focusing on their therapeutic use, particularly in regenerative medicine.
The advantage of placental cells lies in their great potential of differentiation into a wide range of cells, their ideal availability, painless collection and low risk of viral contamination.
Why choose placental tissue collection?
- By collecting placental tissue together with the umbilical cord blood and umbilical cord tissue, your baby will have available the widest range of cells that may be obtained at delivery and therefore more options for treatment of various diseases
- Its cells are used in cell therapy, regenerative treatment of damaged tissue and organs and tissue bioengineering
- The potential of its cells is being investigated for the treatment of the following: osteoarthritis, Crohn’s disease, brain hypoxia at birth, stroke, type 2 diabetes, ankylosing spondylitis and others1
- It is stored in several bags and tubes, which enables multiple use
Present state-of-the-art technologies allow not only to collect placental tissue, cord blood or cord tissue but also to store them for decades and thus preserve them for potential future use.
Use of placental tissueUnique characteristics of placental cells
Haematopoietic stem cells
Cord blood located in placental veins, but also the placental tissue itself, is rich in haematopoietic stem cells from which all types of blood cells are produced.
Transplantation of haematopoietic stem cells obtained from cord blood is effective for dozens of serious diseases, including some haematological and malignant diseases, such as leukaemia, lymphoma, selected tumours, immune or metabolic disorders.
Mesenchymal stem cells
Mesenchymal stem cells are capable of differentiating into a wide range of tissue, such as bone, cartilage, tendons, muscles, nerves or liver. Moreover, they possess immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, which makes them helpful in the treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
Potential use of mesenchymal stem cells from the placenta:
- autologous cell therapy
- recovery treatment of damaged tissue and organs
- tissue engineering.
Endothelial progenitor cells
Endothelial progenitor cells help form new blood vessels and repair blood cells. They may help with the repair of damage due to arterial diseases, such as stroke, myocardial infarction and peripheral artery diseases.2
