Methods of using regenerative cells in the treatment of peripheral vascular disease and related disorders

Abstract

Cells present in adipose tissue are used to treat patients, including patients with PVD and related diseases or disorders. Methods of treating patients include processing adipose tissue to deliver a concentrated amount of stem cells obtained from the adipose tissue to a patient. The methods may be practiced in a closed system so that the stem cells are not exposed to an external environment prior to being administered to a patient. Accordingly, in a preferred method, cells present in adipose tissue are placed directly into a recipient along with such additives necessary to promote, engender or support a therapeutic benefit.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 316,127, filed on Dec. 9, 2002, entitled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TREATING PATIENTS WITH PROCESSED LIPOASPIRATE CELLS, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 338,856, filed Dec. 7, 2001. This application also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 503,589 entitled METHODS OF USING ADIPOSE TISSUE-DERIVED CELLS IN THE TREATMENT OF PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE AND RELATED CONDITIONS, filed Sep. 17, 2003. The contents of all of the aforementioned applications are expressly incorporated herein by this reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention generally relates to cells derived from adipose tissue, and more particularly, to adipose-derived regenerative cells (e.g., stem and / or progenitor cells), methods of using adipose-derived regenerative cells, compositions containing adipose-derived ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] Prior to administration to a patient, the regenerative cells may be grown in cell culture to, for example, promote differentiation towards an angiogenic and / or endothelial phenotype. The cell culture may be performed on a scaffold material, e.g., a resorbable scaffold, to generate a two or three dimensional construct that can be placed on or within the patient. Prior to administration to a patient, the cells could also be modified by gene transfer such that expression of one or more genes, e.g., an angiogenic gene or an apoptotic gene, in the modified regenerative cells is altered.

[0016] The present invention also relates to highly versatile systems and methods capable of separating and concentrating regenerative cells, e.g., stem and progenitor cells, from a given tissue, that are suitable for re-infusion into a subject. In a preferred embodiment, the system is automated. The system of the present invention generally includes one or more of a collection chamber, a processing chamber, a waste chamber, an output chamber and a sample chamber. The various chambers are coupled together via one or more conduits such that fluids containing biological material may pass from one chamber to another in a closed, sterile fluid / tissue pathway. In certain embodiments, the waste chamber, the output chamber and the sample chamber are optional. In one embodiment, the entire procedure from tissue extraction through processing and placement of the device into the recipient would all be performed in the same facility, indeed, even within the same room of the patient undergoing the procedure.

Problems solved by technology

This can lead to occlusion of the vessel, aberrant blood flow, and ultimately to tissue ischemia.

For example, narrowing of the artery that supplies blood to the intestine (i.e., the superior mesenteric artery) can result in severe postprandial pain in the lower abdomen resulting from the inability of the occluded vessel to meet the increased oxygen demand arising from digestive and absorptive processes.

Similarly, PAD in the leg can lead to intermittent pain, usually in the calf, that comes and goes with activity.

However, many patients have a form of disease that is not anatomically suitable for surgical intervention.

Peripheral vascular disease is also manifested in atherosclerotic stenosis of the renal artery, which can lead to renal ischemia and kidney dysfunction.

Although cell culture steps may provide increased cell number, purity, and maturity, they do so at a cost.

This cost can include one or more of the following technical difficulties: loss of cell function due to cell aging, loss of potentially useful non-stem cell populations, delays in potential application of cells to patients, increased monetary cost, and increased risk of contamination of cells with environmental microorganisms during culture.

Suitable methods for harvesting adipose derived stem cells, however, are lacking in the art.

The existing methods suffer from a number of shortcomings.

For example, the existing methods may lack partial or full automation, a partial or completely closed system, disposability of components, etc.

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