The key difference between cord blood and bone marrow stem cells is that the cord blood stem cells are the hematopoietic cells that are present in the umbilical cord of the newborn after the delivery while the bone marrow stem cells are the stem cells present in the bone marrow tissue of individuals.
Stem cell transplant is a common therapeutic procedure where a patient receives a dose of blood-forming (stem) cells to replace their own destroyed cells by disease or by other therapeutical procedures. Both cord blood stem cells and bone marrow stem cells have therapeutic purposes (transplants). Hence, a common use of these stem cells is to replace the unhealthy cells with a healthy one. Clinically, the most common sources of healthy cells are umbilical cord cells and bone marrow cells.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Cord Blood Stem Cells
3. What are Bone Marrow Stem Cells
4. Similarities Between Cord Blood and Bone Marrow Stem Cells
5. Side by Side Comparison – Cord Blood vs Bone Marrow Stem Cells in Tabular Form
6. Summary
What are Cord Blood Stem Cells?
During the cord blood stem cell transplant, cord blood is extracted from the umbilical cord of a newborn baby and transferred to a diseased individual to regain the levels of healthy cells. Cord blood is a source of stem cell-rich blood which is present in the umbilical cord and placenta immediately after delivery. Hence, these cells are hematopoietic or blood forming. In fact, cord blood stem cells lay the foundation for the development of the immune system. Therefore, they are the building blocks of our blood.
Figure 01: Umbilical Cord
Upon collecting the blood for cord blood stem cell transplants, it is necessary to test the blood prior to administering it to the patient. Moreover, by freezing and storing in a refrigerator, we can preserve it for further use. Since a small quantity of cord blood is enough for the transplantation, it does not pose any medical threat to the donor (mother or infant).
What are Bone Marrow Stem Cells?
Bone marrow is a spongy tissue present inside the bones. The most common locations of bone marrow extraction are from skull, hips, ribs, spine or breastbone. Accordingly, the most concentrated blood stem cells are present in the body’s bone marrow. Hence, the most common source of stem cells for transplant is by the bone marrow.
Figure 02: Bone Marrow Stem Cells
During bone marrow stem cell transplant, the bone marrow is extracted from the donor under general anaesthesia. A transplant requires a donation of a quart or more of bone marrow. It is necessary to perform the transplantation immediately after filtering and treating the extracted bone marrows. Furthermore, bone marrow stem cell transplant poses no risk for the transmission of genetic disorders. However, on extraction, the bone marrow should be used fresh in a very short period of time.
What are the Similarities Between Cord Blood and Bone Marrow Stem Cells?
- Both cord blood and bone marrow stem cells are used for stem cell transplants.
- Also, the extraction of both stem cells is from a healthy person/donor.
- Moreover, they are the most common sources of healthy cells.
- Besides, both types of stem cells function to regain the normal levels of healthy cells in the body.
What is the Difference Between Cord Blood and Bone Marrow Stem Cells?
Cord blood and bone marrow stem cells are two types of stem cells commonly used in transplantations. The key difference between cord blood and bone marrow stem cells is in the tissue where they are present. Cord blood stem cells are present in the umbilical cord of a newborn baby while the bone marrow stem cells are present in the bone marrow of bones. Both transplantations do not cause a significant risk to the donor. However, for cord blood stem cell transplantation, a small quantity is sufficient while bone marrow stem cell transplantation requires a quart or more of bone marrow. Hence, this is another difference between cord blood and bone marrow stem cells.
Furthermore, it is possible to preserve cord blood stem cells for later use while it is not possible for bone marrow stem. Instead, it is necessary to use them freshly. Thus, it is another difference between cord blood and bone marrow stem cells.
The below infographic presents more details on the difference between cord blood and bone marrow stem cells in comparatively.
Summary – Cord Blood vs Bone Marrow Stem Cells
The key difference between cord blood and bone marrow stem cells is the origination, The cord blood stem cells are derived from the umbilical cord of the newborn or the placenta of the mother after delivery while the bone marrow stem cells are derived from the bone marrow tissue of individuals. Both cord blood and bone marrow stem cells have immense use in stem cell transplants. A small amount of cord blood is sufficient for the transplantation. Hence, it does not pose any medical threat to the donor (mother or infant). However, the second donation will be difficult since the donor will not be available.
Similarly, bone marrow stem cell transplant also does not pose any risk for the transmission of genetic disorders. But, once extracted, the bone marrow should be used fresh for the transplantation within a very short period of time. This is the difference between cord blood and bone marrow stem cells.