Expression of sirtuins 1 in placenta, umbilical cord, and maternal serum of patients diagnosed with placenta accreta spectrum.

OBJECTIVE: Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is defined as the attachment of the placenta to the uterine wall in varying degrees. However, the studies have explored that the underlying molecular mechanisms of the PAS are very limited. Sirtuins 1 (SIRT1) is associated with placental development by controlling trophoblast cell invasion and remodeling of spiral arteries. We aimed to determine the expression level of SIRT1 in placentas, and maternal and umbilical cord serum of patients with PAS. METHODS: In total, 30 individuals in control, 20 patients in the placenta previa group, and 30 patients in the PAS group were included in this study. The expression levels of SIRT1 in the placentas were determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Serum levels of SIRT1 in maternal and umbilical cord blood were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: SIRT1 was significantly lower in placentas of the PAS. However, maternal and umbilical cord serum samples were not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSION: SIRT1 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the PAS.

Hiperenrollamiento con torsión del cordón umbilical como causa de muerte fetal: reporte de caso / Hypercoiled umbilical cord torsion as a cause of fetal death: case report

Resumen La torsión del cordón umbilical como causa de muerte fetal es rara, con pocos casos reportados. No se conoce con claridad la causa y se presenta principalmente en el segundo trimestre de embarazo. Los factores de riesgo descritos son la longitud del cordón umbilical y el aumento del número de giros. Se reporta el caso de una paciente de 37 años, grávida 2, para 1 con embarazo de 23 semanas, con hallazgo ecográfico de muerte fetal. En el estudio de histopatología se evidenció el cordón umbilical con hiperenrollamiento y torsión a nivel de la unión feto-umbilical con oclusión de la luz de los vasos umbilicales como causa de muerte fetal. Se requiere la investigación de esta patología para determinar los factores de riesgo y el riesgo de recurrencia en futuros embarazos con el fin de establecer métodos de vigilancia fetal antenatal.

Abstract Torsion of the umbilical cord as a cause of fetal death is a rare occurrence, with few reported cases. The cause is not clearly known, and it transpires mainly in the second trimester of pregnancy; the risk factors described are the length of the umbilical cord with increased number of twists. The case of a 37-year-old woman is reported, gravida 2 para 1, 23 weeks pregnant with ultrasound diagnosis of fetal death. Histopathology revealed hypercoiled umbilical cord torsion at the point where the umbilical cord attaches to the fetus, with occlusion of the lumen of the umbilical vein, as a cause of fetal death. Further research of this pathology is required to determine the risk factors and risk of recurrence in future pregnancies that will allow the preparation of antenatal fetal surveillance methods.

Biomarkers of Inflammation and Redox Imbalance in Umbilical Cord in Pregnancies with and without Preeclampsia and Consequent Perinatal Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To compare redox imbalance and inflammation biomarkers in umbilical cords from pregnancies with and without preeclampsia (PE) and to analyse their relationships with perinatal outcomes. METHODS: A controlled cross-sectional study was conducted in Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil, that involved pregnant women with PE and a group of women without the disease, through the application of a standardized questionnaire. After delivery, umbilical cord samples were collected to measure antioxidant defense, products from oxidative damage, and inflammation biomarkers such as myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin- (IL-) 6, IL-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Statistical analyses were performed using Stata version 13.0 software and IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 20.0, adopting a 95% confidence level (α = 0.05), with the chi-square test, the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test, and the multinomial and Poisson regression tests. RESULTS: One hundred PE pregnant women and 50 women without the disease were studied. The umbilical cords from PE pregnancies showed higher levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) (p ≤ 0.001), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (p = 0.016), and malondialdehyde (MDA) (p = 0.028) and lower levels of IL-6 (p = 0.030) and TNF-α (p ≤ 0.001) than the other group, with some associations among these biomarkers with perinatal outcomes. CONCLUSION: The higher levels of GSH and GPx, in addition to the lower levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, found in the PE umbilical cord, may result from adaptive mechanisms to maintain the oxidative and inflammatory balance; however, despite these changes, the damage to the cell membranes was not minimized, as the MDA level was higher in women with PE than in women without the disease. This implies that a redox imbalance is present, confirming that other physiological and adaptive mechanisms are being activated to preserve foetal health. Therefore, the present work unveils an important role of the umbilical cord in controlling redox imbalance and inflammation in PE pregnancies. Our results reinforce the necessity for continuous research on GSH as a protective compound for the perinatal outcome, especially in PE women.

Diagnóstico posnatal de hematoma de cordón umbilical: reporte de un caso / Postnatal diagnosis of umbilical cord hematoma: case report

ANTECEDENTES: El hematoma espontáneo del cordón umbilical es una complicación rara del embarazo que representa una causa grave de morbilidad y mortalidad fetal. Se han descrito numerosos factores de riesgo, pero aún se desconoce su etiología exacta. CASO CLÍNICO: Mujer de 28 años, en su octava gestación, que consultó en urgencias por disminución de los movimientos fetales de varias horas de evolución tras una caída accidental traumática. La monitorización fetal mostró un patrón cardiotocográfico no tranquilizador, con disminución de la variabilidad y sin aceleraciones. Se realizó una cesárea urgente, sin complicaciones, con el nacimiento de un varón vivo de 4560 g, con Apgar 8/10/10 y pH de sangre de cordón umbilical 7.08, que precisó ingreso en la unidad de neonatología por hallazgo de un soplo cardíaco. Tras el alumbramiento se objetivó una gran colección hemática en el cordón umbilical. MÉTODO: Se aplicó una estrategia de búsqueda sistemática en Medline, PubMed y Cochrane de todos los artículos en inglés y español que tuvieran como palabras clave "Umbilical", "Cordón" y "Hematoma". RESULTADOS: Se encontraron 13 publicaciones de 15 casos de hematoma del cordón umbilical en los años 2008-2020. Se realizó una revisión sistemática de los informes de casos descritos en los últimos 12 años en la literatura para evaluar la epidemiología, los factores predisponentes, los resultados potenciales, el diagnóstico prenatal y el manejo clínico. CONCLUSIONES: Debido a la rareza de esta afección, se deben informar todos los casos nuevos de hematoma del cordón umbilical para mejorar el conocimiento de los factores predisponentes, el diagnóstico prenatal y el manejo clínico.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous umbilical cord hematoma is a rare complication of pregnancy which represents a serious cause of fetal morbidity and mortality. There are many risk factors, but the exact etiology is still unknown. CASE REPORT: 28-year-old woman, eighth gestation, who consulted due to decreased fetal movements of several hours of evolution after traumatic accidental fall. Fetal monitoring showed a non-reassuring cardiotocographic pattern, with decreased fetal variability, without accelerations. An emergency cesarean section was performed without complications, with the birth of a living male weighing 4560 grams, with an 8/10/10 Apgar test, and an arterial pH of the umbilical cord 7.08, which required admission to the neonatology unit. After delivery, a large blood collection was observed in the umbilical cord. METHOD: A systematic search strategy was applied to several electronic bibliographic databases: Medline, PubMed and Cochrane. Key words used were "Umbilical", "Cord", "Hematoma". RESULTS: 13 publications of 15 cases of umbilical cord hematoma were reported in the years 2008-2020. A systematic review of the reports of cases, described in the last twelve years in the literature was carried out to evaluate the epidemiology, predisposing factors, potential results, prenatal diagnosis and clinical management of this phenomenon. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the rarity of this condition, every new case of umbilical cord hematoma should be reported in order to improve the knowledge of predisposing factors, prenatal diagnosis, and clinical management.

Advances in translational orthopaedic research with species-specific multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells derived from the umbilical cord.

Compliance with current regulations for the development of innovative medicines require the testing of candidate therapies in relevant translational animal models prior to human use. This poses a great challenge when the drug is composed of cells, not only because of the living nature of the active ingredient but also due to its human origin, which can subsequently lead to a xenogeneic response in the animals. Although immunosuppression is a plausible solution, this is not suitable for large animals and may also influence the results of the study by altering mechanisms of action that are, in fact, poorly understood. For this reason, a number of procedures have been developed to isolate homologous species-specific cell types to address preclinical pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and toxicology. In this work, we present and discuss advances in the methodologies for derivation of multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal Cells derived from the umbilical cord, in general, and Wharton's jelly, in particular, from medium to large animals of interest in orthopaedics research, as well as current and potential applications in studies addressing proof of concept and preclinical regulatory aspects.

Protein and genetic expression of CDKN1C and IGF2 and clinical features related to human umbilical cord length.

BACKGROUND: Umbilical cord (UC) abnormalities are related to neurological outcome and death; specific molecular factors that might be involved are, as yet, unknown; however, protein-coding genes insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1C (CDKN1C) have been identified as potential candidates. METHODS: An analytical observational study was carried out. Newborn UCs were collected, along with their clinical and morphological features. Immunohistochemical analysis was made on paraffin-embedded sections and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed in fresh UC tissue for the assessment of gene expression. RESULTS: A total of 100 newborns were included. A significant association was found between long UC and prematurity [odds ratio (OR) 9] and long UC and respiratory distress (OR 4.04). Gestational diabetes (OR 8.55) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) (OR 4.71) were found to be related to short UCs. The frequency for abnormal UC length was higher than expected. UC length was positively correlated with maternal, newborn and placental weight. No statistical association was found between IGF2 and CDKN1C (p57) expression and UC length; however, there was a tendency for higher CDKN1C expression in short UCs, while, on the contrary, higher IGF2 expression for long UCs. CONCLUSION: UC length was observed to be associated with maternal and newborn complications. Protein expression, messenger RNA (mRNA) activity and the activity of said genes seem to be related to UC length.

Cholinergic-like neurons carrying PSEN1 E280A mutation from familial Alzheimer's disease reveal intraneuronal sAPPß fragments accumulation, hyperphosphorylation of TAU, oxidative stress, apoptosis and Ca2+ dysregulation: Therapeutic implications.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive memory loss and cognitive disturbance as a consequence of the loss of cholinergic neurons in the brain, neuritic plaques and hyperphosphorylation of TAU protein. Although the underlying mechanisms leading to these events are unclear, mutations in presenilin 1 (PSEN1), e.g., E280A (PSEN1 E280A), are causative factors for autosomal dominant early-onset familial AD (FAD). Despite advances in the understanding of the physiopathology of AD, there are no efficient therapies to date. Limitations in culturing brain-derived live neurons might explain the limited effectiveness of AD research. Here, we show that mesenchymal stromal (stem) cells (MSCs) can be used to model FAD, providing novel opportunities to study cellular mechanisms and to establish therapeutic strategies. Indeed, we cultured MSCs with the FAD mutation PSEN1 E280A and wild-type (WT) PSEN1 from umbilical cords and characterized the transdifferentiation of these cells into cholinergic-like neurons (ChLNs). PSEN1 E280A ChLNs but not WT PSEN1 ChLNs exhibited increased intracellular soluble amyloid precursor protein (sAPPf) fragments and extracellular Aß42 peptide and TAU phosphorylation (at residues Ser202/Thr205), recapitulating the molecular pathogenesis of FAD caused by mutant PSEN1. Furthermore, PSEN1 E280A ChLNs presented oxidative stress (OS) as evidenced by the oxidation of DJ-1Cys106-SH into DJ-1Cys106-SO3 and the detection of DCF-positive cells and apoptosis markers such as activated pro-apoptosis proteins p53, c-JUN, PUMA and CASPASE-3 and the concomitant loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA fragmentation. Additionally, mutant ChLNs displayed Ca2+ flux dysregulation and deficient acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity compared to control ChLNs. Interestingly, the inhibitor JNK SP600125 almost completely blocked TAU phosphorylation. Our findings demonstrate that FAD MSC-derived cholinergic neurons with the PSEN1 E280A mutation provide important clues for the identification of targetable pathological molecules.

Late umbilical cord clamping does not increase rates of jaundice and the need for phototherapy in pregnancies at normal risk.

Objective: To verify the relationship between the time of clamping of the umbilical cord and the development of neonatal jaundice, the dosage of bilirubin and the need for phototherapy. Methods: Cross-sectional, retrospective study with 398 parturients at normal risk (single term gestation, no complications during gestation or delivery, birth weight between 2500 and 4499 g). The population was divided into three groups regarding the time of cord clamping: <1 min(117, 29.4%), between 1 and 3 min(228, 57.3%) and >3 min(53, 13.3%). Sociodemographic, clinical and obstetric characteristics, birth and delivery data, and maternal and perinatal outcomes were evaluated. Pearson's chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used for comparison between the groups. Statistical significance was considered p < .05. Results: The groups were similar in the development of jaundice (p = .370), bilirubin dosage (p = .342) and need for phototherapy (p = .515). Late clamping was more prevalent in vaginal deliveries when compared to cesarean sections (1-3 min: 64 versus 21.4%, >3 min: 16.6 versus 1%) (p < .001). There was no difference in other maternal or perinatal variables. Conclusion: The clamping time of the umbilical cord showed no association with jaundice, bilirubin dosage, or phototherapy needs in neonates at normal risk. The adoption of late clamping was more prevalent in vaginal deliveries.

Videodiagnosis of external urinary meatus obstruction and persistent urachus in heifer

Background: Persistent urachus conditions in calves are related to umbilical pathologies and might lead to uroperitoneum abnormalities, especially persistent urachus itself and bladder rupture. Videosurgery could be an interesting option for diagnoses of the genitourinary tract, given the relevance of genitourinary affections in calves. The aim of this report is to describe videosurgery resolution and performance in a case of external urinary meatus obstruction and persistent urachus in a heifer.Case: An eight-month-old Girolando heifer was admitted in the UNIFRAN Veterinary Hospital with the suspicion of persistent urachus. The owner reported that the animal was not urinating, and after a few days, it was noticed the presence of urine leaking from the umbilical site. It was also informed that another veterinarian had previously performed pure iodine infusion in probable urachus area for 5 days in a row in an attempt to obliterate the canal. Significant higher levels of urea, creatinine and fibrinogen were noticed in the exams executed, also leukocytosis and signs of pain when performed abdominal palpation. When urethral sounding was implemented, it showed difficulties and resistance in the introduction of the sound. In the vaginourethrocystoscopy, it was noticed a thin membrane in the external urinary meatus causing complete obstruction, which was easily perforated by the cystoscope sheath, allowing the attainment of urethra and part of cranial bladder inspection. In order to evaluate the flow of the urine, it was applied methylene blue by the cystoscope working channel in the interior of the urethra and the bladder, which was collected by sounding the urachus, confirming presence of persistent urachus. When realized a contrasted x-ray of the bladder, it was noticed extravasation of the contrast into the peritoneum, indicating that a surgical approach should be performed; however the owner did not authorize the realization of any surgical intervention...(AU)

Videodiagnosis of external urinary meatus obstruction and persistent urachus in heifer

Background: Persistent urachus conditions in calves are related to umbilical pathologies and might lead to uroperitoneum abnormalities, especially persistent urachus itself and bladder rupture. Videosurgery could be an interesting option for diagnoses of the genitourinary tract, given the relevance of genitourinary affections in calves. The aim of this report is to describe videosurgery resolution and performance in a case of external urinary meatus obstruction and persistent urachus in a heifer.Case: An eight-month-old Girolando heifer was admitted in the UNIFRAN Veterinary Hospital with the suspicion of persistent urachus. The owner reported that the animal was not urinating, and after a few days, it was noticed the presence of urine leaking from the umbilical site. It was also informed that another veterinarian had previously performed pure iodine infusion in probable urachus area for 5 days in a row in an attempt to obliterate the canal. Significant higher levels of urea, creatinine and fibrinogen were noticed in the exams executed, also leukocytosis and signs of pain when performed abdominal palpation. When urethral sounding was implemented, it showed difficulties and resistance in the introduction of the sound. In the vaginourethrocystoscopy, it was noticed a thin membrane in the external urinary meatus causing complete obstruction, which was easily perforated by the cystoscope sheath, allowing the attainment of urethra and part of cranial bladder inspection. In order to evaluate the flow of the urine, it was applied methylene blue by the cystoscope working channel in the interior of the urethra and the bladder, which was collected by sounding the urachus, confirming presence of persistent urachus. When realized a contrasted x-ray of the bladder, it was noticed extravasation of the contrast into the peritoneum, indicating that a surgical approach should be performed; however the owner did not authorize the realization of any surgical intervention...

Discordance of cord insertions as a predictor of discordant fetal growth in monochorionic twins.

INTRODUCTION: The type of cord insertion within monochorionic twin pairs could be different. The purpose of study is to evaluate the association of different combinations of placental umbilical cord insertions with birth weight discordance in a large cohort of monochorionic twins. METHODS: All consecutive monochorionic placentas from either uncomplicated twin pregnancies or with fetal weight discordance examined and injected with color dye at our centers were included in this study (n = 374). Marginal or velamentous cord insertions were defined as abnormal. Placentas were categorized as concordant when the cord insertions of both fetuses were either normal-normal or abnormal-abnormal, and as discordant when they were normal-abnormal. Birth weight discordance was defined as a difference in birth weight of each twin ≥25%. The association of different cord insertion combinations with birth weight discordance was analyzed. RESULTS: The rate of discordant cord insertions was 55% (204/374) in monochorionic twins. A highly significant association between discordant cord insertions and discordant birth weight was observed (p < 0.01). The odds ratios (OR) for birth weight discordance in the discordant cord insertion group compared with the concordant group were 2.3 (95% CI: 1.2-4.4) for the normal-marginal and 5.9 (95% CI: 3.8-10.4) for the normal-velamentous cord insertion subgroup. Discordant cord insertions are associated with the occurrence of unequal placental sharing (OR 4.3, 95%CI 2.7-6.9). DISCUSSION: Discordance of cord insertions is associated with discordance of birth weight and may therefore be an important indicator of adverse outcome in monochorionic twins.

Umbilical cord and preeclampsia.

INTRODUCTION: Preeclampsia is associated with abnormalities in the umbilical cord in several ways: morphological, biochemical and functional. Alteration in blood vessels of the placenta, decidua and circulatory system of the fetus might be related to factors that cause preeclampsia and may be associated with alterations of the umbilical cord. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between each type of umbilical cord abnormality and the different subtypes of hypertensive gestational disorders. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study on consecutive autopsies and its placentas, looking for abnormalities in the umbilical cord's features and their clinical associations. RESULTS: Umbilical cord abnormalities including length, diameter, insertion, entanglements, knots and coils were associated with maternal gestational hypertension. CONCLUSION: In women with gestational hypertension, umbilical cord abnormalities are associated with fetal and neonatal consequences.

Detection of dengue NS1 and NS3 proteins in placenta and umbilical cord in fetal and maternal death.

In Brazil, dengue is a public health problem with the occurrence of explosive epidemics. This study reports maternal and fetal deaths due to dengue and which tissues of placenta and umbilical cord were analyzed by molecular methods and immunohistochemistry. The dengue NS3 and NS1 detection revealed the viral presence in different cells from placenta and umbilical cord. In the latter, DENV-2 was detected at a viral titer of 1,02 × 10(4) amounts of viral RNA. It was shown that the DENV markers analyzed here may be an alternative approach for dengue fatal cases investigation, especially involving maternal and fetal death. J. Med. Virol. 88:1448-1452, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Cord Occlusion in Monochorionic Twins with Early Selective Intrauterine Growth Restriction and Abnormal Umbilical Artery Doppler: A Consecutive Series of 90 Cases.

OBJECTIVE: To describe perinatal outcomes achieved with cord occlusion (CO) in monochorionic twins with severe selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR) and abnormal umbilical artery Doppler in the IUGR twin (types II and III). METHODS: We studied a consecutive series of 90 cases of sIUGR with abnormal Doppler treated with CO of the IUGR fetus. Abnormal Doppler was defined as continuous (type II, n = 41) or intermittent (type III, n = 49) absent/reversed end-diastolic flow. All cases presented at least one of the following severity criteria: gestational age (GA) <22 weeks, inter-twin estimated weight discordance >35%, reversed end-diastolic umbilical artery flow or ductus venosus pulsatility index >95th centile. We prospectively recorded pregnancy course and perinatal outcome. RESULTS: Median GA at surgery was 20.6 weeks and mean duration 22.4 min. Miscarriage (<24 weeks) occurred in 3.3% (3/90) and preterm delivery <32 weeks in 7.1% (6/84) of continuing pregnancies. GA at delivery was 36.4 weeks and neonatal survival of the larger twin was achieved in 93.3%. CONCLUSION: In a consecutive series studied by an experienced team, CO in monochorionic twins with severe sIUGR type II or III was associated with delivery >32 weeks in 92.9% and neonatal survival of the normal twin in 93.3% of pregnancies.

Umbilical Granuloma in a 2-Month-Old Patient: Histopathology of a Common Clinical Entity.

Umbilical granulomas are the most common anomaly of the umbilicus in neonates and infants. These lesions are characterized by an overgrowth of granulation tissue that persists at the base of the umbilical cord after its separation. Histologically, they consist of granulation tissue, which is composed of fibroblasts, inflammatory cells, and vascular endothelial cells set in an edematous stroma. Although umbilical granulomas are commonly seen clinically, there are no reports of their histopathology in the literature. The authors present the histology of this clinical finding in a 2-month-old infant, as it is important for the pathologist to be aware of this benign entity and distinguish it from other umbilical anomalies that may be of greater clinical significance.

Clinical associations to abnormal umbilical cord length in Latin American newborns.

INTRODUCTION: Umbilical cord is vital to fetal development and its alterations are related to fetal and neonatal deaths and to late neurological complications. Abnormal cord length has been recognized as the most important cord feature leading to unfavorable outcomes. We aimed to examine the relationship between fetal abnormalities and the length of umbilical cord using the ECLAMC (Estudio Colaborativo Latinoamericano de Malformaciones Congénitas/Latin American Collaborative Study on Congenital Malformations) database. METHODS: Using ECLAMC case-control registries, we conducted an observational study on the relationship between umbilical cord length and clinical variables such as chromosomal abnormalities and neonatal malformations. RESULTS: Birth registries totaled 61820; of them 3411 had complete cord data. Abnormal length was found in 427, with 174 short (5.10%) cords and 253 long (7.41%) cords. No relation was found between abnormal cord length and gender, parity or parents' age. More abnormal length cords were found than reported in other series; unexpectedly, more long cords were observed in twin gestations. It was observed that among short cords (174), 105 were from newborns with some type of malformation and 69 with no malformation (OR = 2.92, CI (95%) 2.15-3.98, p = 0.0001); of the 253 long cords, 168 had malformation and only 85 did not (OR = 3.80, CI (95%) 2.91-4.96, p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal cord length is associated with fetal malformation. Further studies are needed to determine the clinical applicability of using this parameter in counseling during prenatal visits.

[Extra-abdominal umbilical vein varix. A case report]. / Variz venosa umbilical intramniótica. Reporte de un caso.

UNLABELLED: The intra-abdominal umbilical vein varix is very uncommon, characterized by a dilation of the vein, usually located between its entry into the abdomen and completion in the portal system. However, the location of this anomaly to extra-abdominal level is very unusual and more difficult to diagnose by ultrasound. CLINICAL CASE: We present a case undiagnosed during pregnancy, demonstrating cord abnormality in its extra-abdominal portion and confirmed later by the pathology study. It was a gestation of 36 + 6 weeks, ending by performing emergency caesarean section for abnormal fetal heart rate, with good perinatal outcome. The diagnosis was made after placental delivery, by the existence of fibrotic cystic structure in the middle third of the umbilical cord.

Human umbilical cord perivascular cells exhibited enhanced migration capacity towards hepatocellular carcinoma in comparison with bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells: a role for autocrine motility factor receptor.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Unfortunately, the incidence and mortality associated with HCC are increasing. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies are urgently needed and the use of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) as carrier of therapeutic genes is emerging as a promising option. Different sources of MSCs are being studied for cell therapy and bone marrow-derived cells are the most extensively explored; however, birth associated-tissues represent a very promising source. The aim of this work was to compare the in vitro and in vivo migration capacity between bone marrow MSCs (BM-MSCs) and human umbilical cord perivascular cells (HUCPVCs) towards HCC. We observed that HUCPVCs presented higher in vitro and in vivo migration towards factors released by HCC. The expression of autocrine motility factor (AMF) receptor, genes related with the availability of the receptor on the cell surface (caveolin-1 and -2) and metalloproteinase 3, induced by the receptor activation and important for cell migration, was increased in HUCPVCs. The chemotactic response towards recombinant AMF was increased in HUCPVCs compared to BM-MSCs, and its inhibition in the conditioned medium from HCC induced higher decrease in HUCPVC migration than in BM-MSC. Our results indicate that HUCPVCs could be a useful cellular source to deliver therapeutic genes to HCC.