The specific characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), including their potential for multiplication and capacity to differentiate into various cell types, such as bone, cartilage or fat, make these cells a very useful tool in regenerative medicine.

It has been documented, that after systematic application, these cells can integrate into various tissues and organs and remain stable for long periods of time. When MSC are infused in the peripheral blood they can also migrate to the injured area.

The list of therapeutical applications is still not extensive. However, there are already reports of their successful use in:

• Accelerating haematopoietic reconstitution (blood system “reconstruction”) after chemotherapy or radiotherapy
• Attenuating graft versus host disease (transplant rejection) after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation
• Osteogenesis imperfecta (strengthening the bone structure and helping with fracture repair)
• Stroke
• Type I Diabetes
• Repairing injuries in the kidney, muscle and lung
• Promoting angiogenesis
• Treating chronic skin injuries
• Accelerating skin injury repair processes when mixed grafts are performed, with MSC and epidermis, reducing the risk of amputation

The advantage of storing MSC from the umbilical cord is related to the fact that these cells diminish in quantity with age and with a disease or evolution of an injury. From birth to 80 years of age, MSC diminish about 50%.