Novel methods for the in-vitro identification, isolation and differentiation of vasculogenic progenitor cells
AssigneeTechnion Research & Development Foundation Limited
InventorsJoseph Itskovitz-Eldor, Sharon Gerecht-Nir
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Abstract
There is provided a simplified and inexpensive method for the in-vitro identification, isolation and culture of human vasculogenic progenitor cells. The method and the progenitor cells isolated thereby can be used for in-vitro vascular engineering, treatment of congenital and acquired vascular and hematological abnormalities, for evaluation and development of drugs affecting vasculo- and angiogenic processes, and for further investigation into tissue differentiation and development.
Claims78
A method of preparing vasculogenic progenitor cells from undifferentiated ES cells, the method comprising:
- (a) culturing individual undifferentiated ES cells in a manner suitable for inducing differentiation of the undifferentiated ES cells into vasculogenic progenitor cells, thereby obtaining a mixed population of cells;
- and
- (b) isolating cells smaller than 50 μm from said mixed population of cells, said cells smaller than 50 μm being vasculogenic progenitor cells.
A method of preparing epithelial progenitor cells from undifferentiated ES cells, the method comprising:
- (a) culturing individual undifferentiated ES cells in a manner suitable for inducing differentiation of the undifferentiated ES cells into vasculogenic progenitor cells thereby obtaining a mixed population of cells;
- and
- (b) isolating cells larger than 50 μm from said mixed population of cells, said cells larger than 50 μm being epithelial progenitor cells.
A method of preparing somatic cells from a population of vasculogenic progenitor cells, the method comprising:
- (a) obtaining a population of vasculogenic progenitor cells;
- and
- (b) culturing the population of vasculogenic progenitor cells in the presence of at least one growth factor suitable for inducing somatic cell differentiation, thereby preparing the somatic cells.
A method of preparing vascular tissue, the method comprising:
- (a) obtaining a population of vasculogenic progenitor cells;
- and
- (b) culturing said population of vasculogenic progenitor cells in the presence of at least one vasculogenic and/or angiogenic growth factor, under conditions suitable for inducing vascular tissue differentiation.
A method of determining an effect of a factor on vascular development, growth and/or modification, the method comprising:
- (a) obtaining a population of vasculogenic progenitor cells;
- (b) exposing said population of vasculogenic progenitor cells to the factor;
- and
- (c) determining an effect of the factor on said population of vasculogenic progenitor cells to thereby determine the effect thereof on vascular development.
A cell culture comprising a population of vasculogenic progenitor cells being sustainable in a proliferative state for at least 14 days and being capable of differentiation into smooth muscle, endothelial and/or hematopoietic cells upon exposure to at least one growth factor selected from the group consisting of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin (Ang), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), ephrin (Eph), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), tumor growth factor (TGF), placental growth factor (PIGF), cytokines, erythropoietin, thrombopoietin, transferrin, insulin, stem cell factor (SCF), Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF).
A composition of matter comprising a substrate and a population of vasculogenic progenitor cells, wherein said vasculogenic progenitor cells are prepared from undifferentiated ES cells by a method comprising the steps:
- (a) culturing individual undifferentiated ES cells in a manner suitable for inducing differentiation of the undifferentiated ES cells into vasculogenic progenitor cells thereby obtaining a mixed population of cells;
- and
- (b) isolating cells smaller than 50 μm from said mixed population of cells, said cells smaller than 50 μm being vasculogenic progenitor cells.
A method of relieving or preventing a vascular disease or condition in a mammalian subject, the method comprising:
- (a) obtaining a population of vasculogenic progenitor cells;
- and
- (b) administering said vasculogenic progenitor cells into the subject under conditions suitable for stimulating differentiation of said vasculogenic progenitor cells into endothelial and smooth muscle cells, thereby alleviating said vascular disease or condition.
A method of vascularizing a mammalian tissue, the method comprising:
- (a) obtaining a population of vasculogenic progenitor cells;
- (b) contacting said vasculogenic progenitor cells with said mammalian tissue under conditions suitable for stimulating differentiation of said vasculogenic progenitor cells into endothelial and smooth muscle cells, thereby enriching the vascularity of the tissue.
A method of relieving or preventing a hematological disease or condition in a mammalian subject, the method comprising:
- (a) obtaining a population of vasculogenic progenitor cells;
- and
- (b) administering said vasculogenic progenitor cells into the subject under conditions suitable for stimulating differentiation of said vasculogenic progenitor cells into endothelial and blood cells, thereby alleviating said hematopoietic disease or condition.
A method of preparing endothelial cells from vascular tissue, the method comprising:
- (a) subjecting the vascular tissue to conditions designed for dissociating cells from the vascular tissue, thereby obtaining a mixed population of dissociated cells;
- and
- (b) isolating cells smaller than 50 μm from said mixed population of cells, said cells smaller than 50 μm being endothelial cells.
A method of preparing epithelial cells from vascular tissue, the method comprising:
- (a) subjecting the vascular tissue to conditions designed for dissociating cells from the vascular tissue, thereby obtaining a mixed population of dissociated cells, thereby obtaining a mixed population of individual cells;
- and
- (b) isolating cells larger than 50 μm from said mixed population of cells, said cells larger than 50 μm being epithelial cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.