Primary (congenital, genetically determined) immunodeficiencies are defects of a certain part in the immune system, due to which the body cannot fully counteract infections and destroy malignant neoplasms in a timely manner. Severe immunodeficiencies can be incompatible with life, and their only treatment method is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The hematopoietic stem cells can be obtained from bone marrow or cord blood and after drug stimulation of hematopoiesis from the peripheral blood.
In September 2024, at the World Cord Blood Congress in the USA, the experience of treating 10 patients with primary immunodeficiencies using cord blood stem cells was presented. In 7 patients, this was the first transplant of choice, and in 3, cord blood was used due to failure of the first transplant of hematopoietic stem cells from adult donors. The average age of patients was 16 months. 1 patient died due to infection. Observation of other patients for 2.7 years showed complete immunological recovery and independence from immunoglobulin infusions.
Thus, the authors conclude that cord blood can be used for genetic immunodeficiencies in children with indications for urgent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Source: Elena Soncini et al. Stem Cells Transl. Med. 2024. 13 (1): S26–S27, https://doi.org/10.1093/stcltm/szae062.023
Ukrainian professionals are also developing methods of cell therapy for immune-mediated diseases. The Institute of Cell Therapy, in cooperation with the State Institution “Institute of Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases n.a. L.V. Gromashevsky” of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine and Kyiv City Clinical Hospital No. 4, have developed and clinically tested a method of treating acute respiratory distress syndrome in COVID-19 using mesenchymal stem cells from the umbilical cord and placenta (more https://instituteofcelltherapy.com/news/stovburovi-klitini-likuyut-covid-19-vzhe-v-ukraїni/)
