INTRODUCTION
Stem cells were first isolated from the bone marrow.1 Since that time, they have also been found in adipose tissue, dental pulp, various parts of the placenta and umbilical cord, and embryos.2 The placenta and umbilical cord, which are often discarded after delivery, represent attractive stem cell sources given their ethical acceptability.
In 2004, Cord Lining Mesenchymal Stem Cells (CLMSC) and Cord Lining Epithelial Stem Cells (CLEpSC) were isolated from the umbilical cord and found to be present in enormous quantities with extremely high purity.3 The cells were additionally found to express non-classical HLA subtypes, HLA-E and HLA-G, which conferred immune protection to these cells by suppressing rejection. Human Cord Lining Mesenchymal Stem Cells (H-CLMSC) seeded on a Biobrane (Smith and Nephew, Hull, UK) scaffold were used initially as a biological dressing to improve granulation tissue in burn patients prior to skin grafting. Accelerated wound re-epithelialisation and healing was observed. This led to the application of H-CLMSC to other chronic wounds which demonstrated accelerated wound healing (unpublished observations). Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) grade H-CLMSC cultured and expanded in a Biologics Licensing Application (BLA) facility at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus are currently being used in a United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) trial to accelerate wound healing in chronic diabetic foot ulcers.7 Given the positive effects of H-CLMSC on wound healing, it was postulated that they may also be beneficial in the rejuvenation of aged skin. Guided by the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Cosmetic Directive, which prohibits cosmetic products containing derivatives of human origin, umbilical cords from Red Deer (RD) raised for horn velvet in New Zealand
In 2004, Cord Lining Mesenchymal Stem Cells (CLMSC) and Cord Lining Epithelial Stem Cells (CLEpSC) were isolated from the umbilical cord and found to be present in enormous quantities with extremely high purity.3 The cells were additionally found to express non-classical HLA subtypes, HLA-E and HLA-G, which conferred immune protection to these cells by suppressing rejection. Human Cord Lining Mesenchymal Stem Cells (H-CLMSC) seeded on a Biobrane (Smith and Nephew, Hull, UK) scaffold were used initially as a biological dressing to improve granulation tissue in burn patients prior to skin grafting. Accelerated wound re-epithelialisation and healing was observed. This led to the application of H-CLMSC to other chronic wounds which demonstrated accelerated wound healing (unpublished observations). Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) grade H-CLMSC cultured and expanded in a Biologics Licensing Application (BLA) facility at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus are currently being used in a United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) trial to accelerate wound healing in chronic diabetic foot ulcers.7 Given the positive effects of H-CLMSC on wound healing, it was postulated that they may also be beneficial in the rejuvenation of aged skin. Guided by the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Cosmetic Directive, which prohibits cosmetic products containing derivatives of human origin, umbilical cords from Red Deer (RD) raised for horn velvet in New Zealand
