Are standard cell culture conditions adequate for human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells?

Dear Sir, Due to the detrimental action of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of ageing and diseases such as inflammation, cancer, cardiovascular disorders and infections. Although this view remains still valid, during the last decade the understanding of oxidative stress has progressively changed and it has become clear that free radicals and reactive oxygen species also play a key role in cell biology and function. In fact, oxidation/reduction reactions are a primary mechanism for regulation of cell proliferation, death, and most notably, cell differentiation, which involves the function of several redox-sensitive molecular elements1. (...)