Isolation and expansion of human marrow stromal cells

Patent Number: 7,374,937

This patent covers methods of expanding bone marrow stromal cells by culture at low concentrations.  The stromal cells described in the patent are very similar in morphology and marker profile to mesenchymal stem cells that are already in clinical trials.

Methods disclosed by the patent include ways of inducing proliferation of isolated human bone marrow stromal cells by culturing the cells at a density of 50 or fewer cells per square centimeter. 

At face value this patent seems very interesting and appears to be worth reading its prosecution history.  We say this because this is one of the few cases where claims seem to have been issued on tissue culture concentrations of the cells.  Additionally, the patent's earliest priority date of in 1999 makes it of interest since numerous companies are using what would fall under the definition of "stromal". 

View this patent on the USPTO website.