Cytokines in umbilical cord blood-derived cellular product: a mechanistic insight into bone repair

AIM: Umbilical cord blood (UCB) finds frequent applications in regenerative medicine. We evaluated the role of cytokines present in a uniquely processed, UCB-derived cellular allograft product (UCBp). MATERIALS & METHODS: Luminex multiplex assay and standard cell biology methods were employed. RESULTS: Study with allografts from 33 donors identified 44 quantifiable cytokines in the UCBp derived conditioned media (CM). The UCBp-CM elevated proliferation and migration rates of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and bone marrow stromal cells. Moreover, UCBp-CM induced secretion of VEGF-A and osteoprotegerin, which promoted angiogenesis of endothelial cells and positively influenced the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs, respectively. CONCLUSION: Cytokines in UCBp stimulate cellular processes important for bone regeneration, making UCBp an excellent candidate for potential applications in orthopedic procedures like bone non-union and spinal fusion.