A novel
population of multipotent cardiac precursor (MCP) cells derived from human blastocysts
derived stem cells is disclosed, methods for the preparation thereof and use of the cells for
in vitro testing.
Basement cells derived from hBS cells are also disclosed and method for the preparation of MCP cells from
basement cells. The MCP cells have the following characteristicsi) at least 1% of the cells exhibit no
antigen expression of one or more markers for
undifferentiated cell, the marker being selected from the group consisting of SSEA-3, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60, TRA-1-81 and Oct-4,ii) at least 1% of the cells exhibit no
protein expression of one or more of a neural marker including nestin or GFAPiii) at least 1% of the cells exhibit
protein and / or
gene expression of one or more of a mesodermal marker including brachyury,
vimentin or desminiv) at least 1% of the cells exhibit
protein and / or
gene expression of Flk-1 (KDR).Furthermore, the MCP cells have a characteristic morphology. They grow as clusters of small, round and phase-bright cells; individual cells are 5-20 μm in
diameter and each cluster is composed of 2-500 cells. They form clusters of round or elongated shape, that appear as loosely
adherent cell clumps that as illustrated in FIG. 2 panel a, b and c. Furthermore, they have a relatively high
nucleus-to-cytoplasma ratio, e.g. 1:2-1:64 of the total volume of the
cell and / or appear as balloons on a string, as illustrated in FIG. 18,
schematic sketch. Moreover, the MCP cells are non-contracting.