Methods for differentiating mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract

The application discloses a method for obtaining MSC-derived cells with improved transplantation properties from MSC, the method comprising a cell size reduction step, wherein said cell size reduction step is characterized by contacting MSC or MSC-derived cells in vitro or ex vivo with heparin or a derivative or analogue thereof at a concentration of at least 0.01 IU/ml. The application further provides a method for obtaining mesenchymal stem cell-derived cells from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) comprising contacting MSC in vitro or ex vivo with FGF-2, TGFβ and at least 0.01 IU/ml heparin or a derivative or analogue thereof. The invention also provides the so-obtained cells and cell populations, as well as further products comprising such and uses thereof.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.