A review has looked at the special types of stem cells found in a tissue called Wharton’s jelly, which is part of the umbilical cord in human babies. These cells are called Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem cells, or WJ-MSCs for short.
One of the key ways these cells can help us is through something called their “secretome”. This is a fancy term for all the different types of substances that these cells can produce and release. These substances can include things like growth factors that can help cells and tissues to grow, anti-inflammatory factors that can reduce inflammation, and other types of molecules that help cells to function properly.
Interestingly, these substances can be released directly into the area around the cell, or they can be packaged into tiny particles called extracellular vesicles (EVs) before they’re sent out. These EVs can be thought of as little courier packages or delivery vans, carrying the cell’s products to their destination.
What’s really exciting about these cells is that they’re very young and robust, coming from an umbilical cord, and they have a lot of potential to grow into different types of cells. They also haven’t been exposed to many environmental factors that could cause damage, unlike adult stem cells. This makes them a very attractive option for possible treatments.
The substances produced by these WJ-MSCs could be used in the treatment of various conditions such as inflammation, skin wounds, tumors, neurodegenerative disorders (conditions where nerve cells lose their function over time, like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s), tissue fibrosis (a condition where normal tissue is replaced with scar tissue), and diabetes.
However, it’s not all solved just yet. The researchers note that more detailed studies need to be done to fully understand the secretome of these cells, and to understand the regulation and expression of these substances – “…interventions using the WJ-MSCs’ secretome have been successful in treating inflammation, skin wounds, tumors, neurodegenerative disorders, tissue fibrosis, and diabetes. Therefore, it is noteworthy that WJ-MSCs’ secretome has tremendous potential, allowing for its allogeneic therapeutic applications. However, more detailed secretome profiling studies, especially those including proteomics and metabolomics, are required to gain a more in-depth understanding of its components and the underlying molecular mechanisms regulating their expression and secretion.”
While some clinical trials are currently in progress, the review suggests that more long-term studies need to be done to understand the potential benefits and safety of these treatments. The researchers also call for good practices in handling these cells and their products, and suggest that an international society or organization could help implement safe practices.