THE USE OF UMBILICAL-CORD BLOOD AS A CELLULAR SOURCE FOR CORRECTION OF GENETIC-DISEASES AFFECTING THE HEMATOPOIETIC SYSTEM

Human umbilical cord blood contains abundant primitive and committed h ematopoietic progenitors and has been used as an alternative source of reconstituting hematopoietic stem cells. Recent advances in the under standing of molecular aspects of multiple diseases and improvements in technology associated with prenatal diagnosis now allow the in utero identification of many genetic diseases affecting the hematopoietic sy stem. Advances in technology raise the potential for genetic correctio n and subsequent transplantation of autologous cord and placental bloo d hematopoietic stem cells into affected patients prior to expression of the disease phenotype. This review will summarize the recent data o n advances in prenatal diagnosis, characterization of the biology of c ord blood stem cells, and efforts at developing methods for genetic tr ansduction of cord blood hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells.