I t is our anticipation and hope that stem cells will cure type 1 diabetes someday because of their limitless capacity to differentiate as needed into the vital tissue or organ. In theory, pluripotent cells have the capacity to reprogram a hostile immune response to tolerate pancreatic -cells and to regenerate pancreatic -cell mass. These two factors are the necessary ingredients for reversing ...

OBJECTIVE To confirm the effect of the endothelial protein receptor gene (PROCR) haplotypes H1 and H3 on venous thromboembolism (VTE), to study their effect on endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and to investigate the functionality of H1 tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms in an in vitro model. APPROACH AND RESULTS Protein C (PC), a...

Background Endometriosis is a common, benign, oestrogen-dependent, chronic gynaecological disorder associated with pelvic pain and infertility. Some researchers have identified nerve fibers in endometriotic lesions in women with endometriosis. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have attracted interest for their possible use for both cell and gene therapies because of their capacity for self-renewal ...

The use of umbilical stem cells in tissue engineering is gaining in popularity. Some of the various uses of these umbilical stem cells are highlighted in this review, focusing mainly on their cartilage, bone and neuronal differentiating abilities. The review will also shed light on the application of these abilities in human clinical trials to repair, protect and treat diseases, e.g. neurodegen...

Background Serotonin (5-HT), is a vasoactive substance involved in physiological functioning of fetoplacental blood flow and continuous modulation of smooth muscle tone in umbilical vein and arteries. Since umbilical blood vessels have been shown to be deficient in autonomic innervation, the action of local autocrine vasoactive substances (including serotonin) is of considerable importance. Alt...