Human Wharton's Jelly Stem Cells and Their Conditioned Medium Enhance Healing of Excisional and Diabetic Wounds

The study evaluated the effectiveness of human Wharton's jelly stem cells (hWJSCs) and their conditioned medium (hWJSC-CM) in enhancing the healing of excisional and diabetic wounds. hWJSCs, derived from the human umbilical cord, were found to be non-controversial, hypo-immunogenic, and non-tumorigenic, with the ability to differentiate into keratinocytes and secrete molecules crucial for tissue repair. In scratch-wound assays, hWJSC-CM significantly improved fibroblast migration and increased levels of collagen, elastin, and fibronectin compared to controls. In murine models, both GFP-labeled hWJSCs and hWJSC-CM significantly accelerated wound healing, as evidenced by reepithelialization, increased vascularity, and higher cellular density. The study concluded that hWJSCs enhance wound healing through keratinocyte differentiation and the release of healing-promoting molecules.