OBJECTIVEThis literature review aims to summarize the methods of isolation, expansion, differentiation and preservation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs), for comprehensive understanding and practical use in preclinical research and clinical trials.

DATA SOURCESAll the literature reviewed was published over the last 10 years and is listed in PubMed and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Studies were retrieved using the key word "human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells".

RESULTSExplants culture and enzymatic digestion are two methods to isolate hUCMSCs from WJ and there are modifications to improve these methods. Culture conditions may affect the expansion and differentiating orientations of hUCMSCs. In addition, hUCMSCs can maintain their multi-potential effects after being properly frozen and thawed.

CONCLUSIONConsidering their multi-potential, convenient and non-invasive accessibility, low immunogenicity and the reported therapeutic effects in several different preclinical animal models, hUCMSCs have immense scope in regeneration medicine as a substitute for MSCs derived from bone marrow or umbilical cord blood.