Glossary · regenerative medicine A–Z
Wharton's Jelly
The connective tissue of the umbilical cord, from which different stromal or fibroblast-like preparations may be derived.
Why Wharton's Jelly matters when choosing treatment
The gelatinous matrix surrounding umbilical-cord blood vessels—rich in stem and immune cells that clinics harvest at birth from discarded cords. It's abundant and non-invasive to collect, making it commercially attractive. Wharton's jelly cells show promise in inflammatory and autoimmune contexts because they naturally suppress immune overreaction. When comparing clinics, ask how they isolate and expand these cells: crude extracts differ vastly from purified, characterised populations. Also clarify whether their cord-derived cells are fresh or cryopreserved; freeze-thaw cycles degrade viability by 10–30%.
Related terms & context
Paracrine EffectDifferentiationPluripotentImmunomodulationCell BankingRegenerative MedicineStem Cell TourismNeuro-inflammationIntravenous (IV) DeliveryIntrathecal DeliveryPlacental MSCChondrocyte