Opinion Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2023.
World J Stem Cells. Apr 26, 2023; 15(4): 105-119
Published online Apr 26, 2023. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v15.i4.105
Table 1 Perinatal vs adult mesenchymal stem/stromal cells in their biological and therapeutic properties

Perinatal mesenchymal stem/stromal cells
Adult mesenchymal stem/stromal cells
AvailabilityReadily availableReadily available
Ethical concernsMinimal crucial ethical concerns and possible religious barriersMinimal ethical concerns and impossible religious barriers
Immune privileged characteristicsInactively controversial for immune privileged characteristicsActively controversial for immune privileged characteristics
DifferentiationMultipotent differentiationMultipotent differentiation
VariabilityLow possibility of stem cell variability and multipotent plasticityPossibility of stem cell variability and multipotent plasticity
HeterogeneityDiverse heterogeneities/low homogeneityDiverse heterogeneities/low homogeneity
Age-induced senescenceUnconcerned about age-induced senescence in vitroConcerned about age-induced senescence in vitro
Environmental effectsLow risk of donor environmental effects (such as virus, bacterium, chemical toxins)Risk of donor environmental affects (such as virus, bacterium, chemical toxins)
Therapeutic safetyComparatively safeComparatively safe
Therapeutic efficacyRelatively low therapeutic efficacyRelatively low therapeutic efficacy
Therapeutic mechanismsLacking of precise therapeutic mechanismsLacking of precise therapeutic mechanisms
Cost for bankingExpensive for bankingExpensive for banking
Stem cell nomenclatureControversial stem cell nomenclatureControversial stem cell nomenclature