Cord Blood Cord Blood Stem Cells

Question 1

What type of stem cells are primarily found in cord blood that give rise to all blood and immune cells?

Accepted Answer

Hematopoietic stem cells

Answer

Cord blood is rich in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are multipotent progenitors capable of regenerating the entire blood and immune system.

Question 2

Which surface marker is most commonly used to identify and quantify hematopoietic stem cells in cord blood?

Accepted Answer

CD34+

Answer

CD34+ is the primary surface antigen used to identify hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in cord blood units.

Question 3

Compared to bone marrow stem cells, cord blood stem cells have which key proliferative advantage?

Accepted Answer

Longer telomeres and higher self-renewal capacity

Answer

Cord blood stem cells have longer telomeres than adult bone marrow stem cells, giving them superior self-renewal capacity and proliferative potential.

Question 4

What does 'engraftment' mean in the context of a cord blood transplant?

Accepted Answer

Successful establishment of donor stem cells in the recipient's bone marrow

Answer

Engraftment occurs when transplanted donor stem cells successfully home to the recipient's bone marrow and begin producing new blood cells.

Question 5

Why do cord blood T-cells cause less graft-versus-host disease compared to adult donor T-cells?

Accepted Answer

Cord blood T-cells are naive and less alloreactive

Answer

Cord blood T-cells are immunologically naive and have reduced alloreactivity, which is why cord blood transplants are associated with lower rates of severe GVHD.

Cord Blood Practice Test

Cord Blood Practice Test

Cord Blood Cord Blood Stem Cells