Cord Blood as a Treatment for Stroke

Abstract

Over the last few decades, there has been an explosion in stem cell research. The investigation of umbilical cord blood (UCB) cells as a treatment for stroke is even more recent. Ease of collection and the ability to maintain their stem cell properties post-cryopreservation made these cells very attractive candidates for treatment development initially. UCB cells have many advantages including a wide variety of cell types present, including hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, endothelial progenitor cells, lymphocytes, and monocytes, which enhances their ability to modulate multiple targets impacted by neurodegenerative processes. Although the precise mechanisms of action are still being researched, UCB cells have been shown to benefit functional recovery and also reduce infarct size post-stroke. They have also demonstrated an ability to provide these benefits when administered peripherally and within 24–48 h post-stroke, which immensely expands the current treatment window of 3–4 h for tissue plasminogen activator. This chapter highlights the current research with UCB cells in the development of a novel treatment for stroke and demonstrates the great therapeutic potential of these cells.