Progress in the treatment of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy with umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells

Abstract

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a common disease among newborns, which is a leading cause of neonatal death and permanent neurological sequelae. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is the only method for the treatment of HIE that has been recognized effective clinically at home and abroad, but the efficacy is limited. Recent research suggests that the cord blood-derived mononuclear cells (CB-MNCs), which the refer to blood cells containing one nucleus in the cord blood, exert anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic effects and play a neuroprotective role in HIE. This review focuses on safety and efficacy, the route of administration, dose, timing and combination treatment of CB-MNCs in HIE.

Keywords: Cord blood-derived mononuclear cells; Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy; Neuroprotection; Newborn infant; Perinatal brain injury; Stem cells; Transplantation.