787 results about "Precursor cell" patented technology

A system for delivering a fluid comprising cells to tissue of a patient includes a container holding an injection fluid and a powered drive. A sensor system provides a measurement indicative of at least shear forces on the cells to a control system. Based at least in part on this measurement, the control system is adapted to transmit a control signal to the powered drive for pressurizing the contents of the container to deposit cells within the tissue of a patient via a fluid path and a patient interface. As an example, the cells can be pregenitor or stem cells.

Apparatus and methods for injecting biological agents into tissue. Devices are provided having elongate shafts and distal injection heads for driving needles into tissue and injecting medical agents into the tissue through the needles. A longitudinal force directed along the shaft can be translated to a needle driving force. Some devices provide controllably variable needle penetration depth. Devices include mechanical needle drivers utilizing four link pantographs, rack and pinions, and drive yokes for driving a first needle bearing body toward a second tissue contacting body. Other devices include inflatable members for driving and retracting needles. Still other devices include magnets for biasing the needles in extended and / or retracted positions. The invention includes minimally invasive methods for epicardially injecting cardiocyte precursor cells into infarct myocardial tissue.

The present disclosure relates to the finding that microRNA-146 plays a role in modulating the development and function of the immune system. Immune cell development and function can be modulated by delivery of microRNA-146 (miR-146) or antisense miR-146 to target immune cells or precursor cells. For example, in some embodiments, activity and / or proliferation of certain immune cells is regulated by administering miR-146 oligonucleotides or anti-miR-146 oligonucleotides. In other embodiments, pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in immune cells is regulated by administering a miR-146 oligonucleotide or anti-miR-146. In further embodiments, methods of regulating macrophage activity using antisense miR-146 are provided. Additional methods and compositions for regulating immune system function and development using miR-146 are disclosed.

The present invention provides methods for immortalizing precursor cells that are non-terminally differentiated cells such as stem cells, said methods comprising culturing the precursor cells in the presence of a Notch agonist and one or more growth factors that support the proliferation but not differentiation of the non-terminally differentiated cells. The present invention further provides methods to induce the differentiation of immortalized cells, comprising growing the cells in the presence of a Notch agonist and at least one growth factor which supports the differentiation of the cell into a more specialized cell type. The immortalized and / or differentiated cells of the invention can be used to repopulate cell populations that have been diminished, for example as a result of infection or exposure to certain drugs. The invention further provides a cell culture comprising a population of non-terminally differentiated cells immortalized by the methods of the present invention and kits comprising reagents that promote the immortalization of precursor cells. The invention further provides methods for screening for Notch modulators and for identifying genes involved in processes of cellular differentiation.

A novel gene 65B13 expressed specifically and transiently in dopaminergic neuron precursor cells immediately after cell cycle exit was obtained by the present invention. The cellular expression of 65B13 can be used as an index to select cells that are suitable in terms of their safety, survival rate, and network formation ability, for transplant therapy of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease.

Mesenchymal precursors cells have been isolated from perivascular niches from a range of tissues utilizing a perivascular marker. A new mesenchymal precursor cell phenotype is described characterized by the presence of the perivascular marker 3G5, and preferably also alpha smooth muscle actin together with early developmental markers such as STRO-1 and CD146 / MUC18. The perivascular mesenchymal precursor cell is shown to induce neovascularisation and improvement in cardiac function. Suitable administration of preparations of the mesenchymal precursor cells are useful for treatment of cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases and peripheral vascular diseases.

A method of enriching mesenchymal precursor sells including the step of enriching for cells based on at least two markers. The markers may be either i) the presence of markers specific for mesenchymal precursor cells, ii) the absence of markers specific for differentiated mesenchymal cells, or iii) expression levels of markers specific for mesenchymal precursor cells. The method may include a first solid phase sorting step utilizing MACS recognizing expression of the antigen to the STRO-1 Mab, followed by a second sorting step utilizing two color FACS to screen for the presence of high level STRO-1 antigen expression as well as the expression of VCAM-1.

The present invention provides a scaffold in which cells can be stably retained and grafted in a uniform distribution state in the culture, preferable proliferation ability and viability can be secured, and particularly in the case of cartilage, fixation treatment such as suture can be carried out in the transplantation into affected parts after the culture, and the mechanical strength is provided sustainable for (weighted) compression at the initial stage of transplantation.The present invention relates to a 3-dimensional porous scaffold for tissue regenerationwhich comprises a structure composed of vertically long-shaped pores having a pore diameter of not less than 10 μm to not more than 500 μm and pore length of not less than 20 μm to not more than 1 cm being juxtaposedly arrangedobtained by a production process comprising rapid freeze-drying as a key technology.Further, the invention relates to the above 3-dimensional porous scaffold in which seeding properties of cells are improved by a pore enlargement treatment of one side face by a separation operation, a salt elution operation of a surface part, or a combination of these operations. It becomes possible to produce a 3-dimensional cell combination having excellent degree of tissue formation and medical treatment effect by seeding a cell or precursor cell derived from a tissue in this scaffold, and culturing them in an artificial environment and / or the living body.

The in vivo synthesis of connective tissue by fibroblast or fibroblast precursor cells ensconced within a biocompatible scaffold is disclosed. The cells are preferably present in a biocompatible scaffold such as gelatin and placed between two other biocompatible scaffolds such as collagen sponges soaked with a collagenic amount of a member of the TGF-β family of proteins. This composition is then implanted in a host to produce cranial sutures, periodontal ligament or other fibrous tissue structures in vivo.