Methods of controlling proliferation and differentiation of stem and progenitor cells

Patent Number: 7,169,605

Ex vivo expansion of stem cells offers the possibility of using autologous cells for the treatment of diseases ranging from hematopoietic disorders to post myocardial infarction cardiac regeneration.

Stem cell therapy with adult cells is often limited by the fact that it is difficult to obtain high enough numbers of cells for performing repeated administration. Additionally, stem cells from adult sources may be senescent and therefore possess a limited regenerative activity. Although there is great interest in the use of stem cells from allogeneic sources such as cord blood, there are concerns that cord blood stem cells being allogeneic may elicit various immune reactions.

In the current patent the use of ex vivo manipulation for stem cell expansion is described. The manipulation step consists of reducing the copper concentration in the media so as to augment proliferative and self renewal activity, without inducing cellular differentiation.

Although the patent covers hematopoietic stem cells in the claims, the specification actually describes expansion of other types of tissue stem cells including hepatic, cardiac and muscle stem cells.

View this patent on the USPTO website.