Methods for identifying stem cells based on nuclear morphotypes
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsElena V. Gostjeva, William G. Thilly
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for identifying stem cells and other cells specific to embryogenesis and carcinogenesis, classifying tissue samples, diagnosing precancerous and cancerous or atherosclerotic lesions, testing the value of anticancer agents, discovering macromolecules specifically expressed in particular cell types, using stem cells in restorative tissue therapy as well as methods for preparing tissue samples so heteromorphic nuclear morphotypes remain intact are disclosed.
Claims52
A method for characterizing a tissue sample obtained from an adult, comprising:
- a) visualizing the nuclei of cells distributed throughout the tissue sample, wherein the tissue sample is prepared by a method that substantially preserves the integrity of nuclear structures;
- and
- b) determining the presence and/or absence of bell-shaped nuclei,
- wherein an elevated number of bell-shaped nuclei, relative to a suitable control tissue sample characterizes the tissue sample as pathological.
A method for diagnosing atherosclerosis, comprising:
- a) visualizing the nuclei of cells distributed throughout a tissue sample comprising blood vessel wall tissue obtained from an adult, wherein the tissue sample is prepared by a method that substantially preserves the integrity of nuclear structures;
- and
- b) determining the presence and/or absence of bell-shaped nuclei in the tissue sample,
- wherein an elevated number of bell-shaped nuclei in the tissue sample, relative to a suitable control tissue sample, is indicative of atherosclerosis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.