What is Wharton’s Jelly?
Wharton's jelly is a gelatinous substance found within the umbilical cord. It is a clear, mucous tissue that insulates and protects the umbilical arteries and vein. It acts as a cushioning and insulating material to prevent the umbilical vessels from collapsing or kinking, ensuring consistent blood flow between the fetus and placenta.
Wharton’s jelly is rich in mucopolysaccharides (like hyaluronic acid), collagen fibers, and specialized cells called mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The MSCs found in Wharton’s Jelly are multipotent, meaning they can differentiate into various tissue types (e.g., bone, cartilage, muscle, fat), making it a valuable source in regenerative medicine. MSCs from Wharton’s Jelly are less likely to provoke immune rejection, which is beneficial for therapeutic use.
What are the Applications of Wharton’s Jelly?
Due to their potential to differentiate into a variety of cell types and their immunomodulatory properties, Wharton’s jelly is being actively considered for possible clinical applications in:
- Wound healing
- Cartilage and bone regeneration
- Neurological repair
- Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases
- Cardiovascular disorders
- Treatment of conditions like osteoarthritis, spinal cord injury, and more
Procedure for Extracting Wharton’s Jelly Stem Cells for Treatment
In general, the procedure for the extraction of Wharton’s jelly specialized cells includes:
- The umbilical cord is collected after a healthy, full-term delivery (usually with informed consent from the mother).
- The cord is clamped, cleaned, and transported in sterile conditions to a processing facility.
- The outer membrane (amniotic epithelium) and blood vessels are carefully removed.
- The gelatinous Wharton’s Jelly tissue is then extracted from the cord.
- The jelly is enzymatically digested (using collagenase and/or hyaluronidase) or mechanically processed to release mesenchymal stem cells.
- The extracted cells may be cultured and expanded in a lab to reach therapeutic quantities.
- Quality control tests are performed to ensure sterility, viability, and cell identity.
- Cells can be cryopreserved for future use or administered directly, depending on the clinical application.
- The MSCs are then used for various treatments, such as tissue repair, inflammation reduction, or immune modulation, via injection or infusion.
Risks and Complications
While Wharton’s Jelly-derived stem cell therapy is considered promising and generally safe, there are some potential risks and complications to be aware of, including:
- Immune reaction - There is a small risk of immune rejection or inflammatory response, especially with allogeneic (donor-derived) use.
- Infection - If the umbilical cord is not properly sterilized or the processing is compromised, there’s a risk of transmitting infections.
- Thrombosis or embolism - Improper administration (especially via IV) could potentially lead to clot formation or embolism.
- Allergic reactions - Very rare, but some individuals might react to components used during stem cell processing.
Benefits
Some of the benefits of Wharton’s Jelly include the following:
- Rich source of stem cells - Contains abundant MSCs, which can differentiate into bone, cartilage, muscle, and fat cells.
- Immunomodulatory properties - Helps regulate immune responses, making it useful in treating autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.
- Non-invasive collection - Harvested painlessly after birth without harm to mother or baby.
- Supports regeneration and healing - Promotes tissue repair, reduces inflammation, and accelerates recovery in injuries or degenerative diseases.
- Low risk of rejection - MSCs from Wharton’s Jelly are immune-privileged, minimizing the chance of immune rejection.
- Antimicrobial and anti-scarring properties - Contains bioactive factors that may help fight infection and reduce fibrosis (scar tissue formation).
