Placental tissue gives gift of life a second time around

Stem cells from placenta usually discarded after childbirth can now be used to develop treatments for conditions such as diabetes, with each placenta containing enough stem cells to potentially treat 100 patients.

Researchers from The University of Queenslands Centre for Clinical Research have discovered a way to extract large quantities of endothelial stem cells from the life-giving organ.

The placenta is the organ in which a foetus develops. It assists in supplying the foetus with nutrients during pregnancy.

The specialist cells, which form part of the interior surface of blood vessels, are abundant in the placenta but it has not previously been possible to isolate them in sufficient quantities for use in treatments.

Study leader Associate Professor Kiarash Khosrotehrani said researchers were now working to develop medical treatments from the endothelial stem cells.

One of the therapies we are exploring will benefit patients with any condition where blood supply to tissues is severely restricted, such as heart issues, Associate Professor Khosrotehrani said.

We have recently discovered that endothelial stem cells form new blood vessels when injected into the body.

A single placenta has enough stem cells for 100 doses, which means after giving life to a baby, the organ may then go on to give a new lease of life to many patients.

He said laboratory experiments had been promising.

We have conducted experiments in mice with restricted blood flow and this has revealed that injected endothelial stem cells spur blood vessel growth and improve blood flow by up to 30 to 40 per cent in just two weeks, Associate Professor Khosrotehrani said.

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Placental tissue gives gift of life a second time around