Virological risks and benefits of cord blood banking

Abstract

The risks of the reactivation of latently carried maternal viruses during pregnancy and the transfer of primary maternal viral infections to fetus due to the maternal immunomodulation may also affect the safety of the umbilical cord blood banking. Microchymerism, transcytosis, transfer of virus-immunoglobulin complexes and replication of viruses in placental and fetal cells are the mechanisms of the maternal-fetal transfer of viruses. Very few virus harbouring cells in the cord blood preparations might endanger the health of transplant recipients. Very few cells with latent viruses can be amplified and released during the in vitro expansion of the pluripotent umbilical cord blood cell (UCB) populations. © 2013 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.