Abstract:
The presently disclosed subject matter generally relates to methods and systems for facilitating the growth and differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells for laboratory and therapeutic applications. The cells can be employed alone or in conjunction with unique biologically-compatible scaffold structures to generate differentiated tissues and structures, both in vitro and in vivo. The presently disclosed subject matter further relates to methods of forming and using improved tissue engineered scaffolds that can be used as substrates to facilitate the growth and differentiation of cells.
Abstract:
The invention relates to methods for manipulating hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells, mesenchymal stem cells, epithelial stem cells, neural stem cells and related products through activation of the PTH/PTHrP receptor in neighboring cells.
Abstract:
The invention relates to the use of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) in the prevention of hypertrophy in chondrogenic cells for cartilage replacement. A method for engineering three dimensional cartilage constructs from chondrogenic cells is provided, said method comprising a step of treating the chondrogenic cells or immature constructs with PTHrP to regulate hypertrophy. Also provided are: three dimensional cartilage produced by the method of the invention, and an engineered cartilage construct comprising chondrogenic cells and a bioactive scaffold capable of controlled release of PTHrP. In addition, the invention provides a method for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Abstract:
This invention relates, e.g., to a method for expanding mammalian acinar cells, comprising culturing the cells in a cell culture system comprising a cell culture medium and a cell attachment surface, under conditions wherein the acinar cells undergo a 3-4 fold expansion together with transdifferentiation into a modified cell phenotype (IP cells) showing characteristics of acinar cells and liver cells. The invention also relates to a method for transforming these IP cells to insulin-producing cells in vitro, comprising culturing the cells in a novel, defined medium. Also disclosed are suitable culture media for performing these methods, isolated cells having the phenotype of IP cells and/or produced by these methods, and kits for performing the methods.
Abstract:
This invention relates, e.g., to a method for expanding mammalian acinar cells, comprising culturing the cells in a cell culture system comprising a cell culture medium and a cell attachment surface, under conditions wherein the acinar cells undergo a 3-4 fold expansion together with transdifferentiation into a modified cell phenotype (IP cells) showing characteristics of acinar cells and liver cells. The invention also relates to a method for transforming these IP cells to insulin-producing cells in vitro , comprising culturing the cells in a novel, defined medium. Also disclosed are suitable culture media for performing these methods, isolated cells having the phenotype of IP cells and/or produced by these methods, and kits for performing the methods.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a bone matrix which can be obtained by: (a) starting out from an explantation and obtaining osteogenic precursor cells or starting out from an osteogenic cell line; (b) optionally expanding the obtained osteogenic precursor cells or the osteogenic cell line in-vitro; (c) permitting the osteogenic precursor cells to propagate, said cells being obtained according to (a) or expanded according to (b), or permitting the cell line to propagate, said cell line being inserted according to (a) or expanded according to (b), and optionally obtaining osteogenic cells; (d) separate from step (c), permitting the osteogenic cells to synthesize in-vitro in an extracellular matrix, said cells being obtained according to (a) or expanded according to (b), or permitting the cell line to synthesize in-vitro in an extracellular matrix, said cell line being introduced according to (a) or expanded according to (b); (e) optionally liberating the synthesized matrix from cells and optionally obtaining a cell-free bone matrix; (f) populating the obtained cell-free bone matrix once more with osteogenic cells which have been obtained according to (c) and optionally obtaining a populated bone matrix by using osteogenic cells.
Abstract:
The present disclosure provides methods of producing cartilage in vitro . The present disclosure provides treatment methods, involving introducing in vitro -produced cartilage into a treatment site in vivo . The present disclosure provides methods of enhancing bone formation, the method involving introducing in vitro -produced hypertrophic cartilage into a treatment site in vivo .
Abstract:
Methods and apparatuses are provided for inhibiting articular cartilage mineralization in a subject comprising administering to articular cartilage of the subject an amount of a functional domain of parathyroid hormone- related peptide (PTHrP). In addition, methods and apparatuses for preventing or treating osteoarthritis in a subject comprising administering to articular cartilage of the subject a prophylactically or therapeutically effective amount of a functional domain of parathyroid hormone- related peptide (PTHrP), respectively, are provided. Also, methods and apparatuses for promoting articular cartilage repair in a subject comprising comprising administering to articular cartilage of the subject an effective amount functional domain of parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) are provided. Further, methods for diminishing damaging effects of physical activity on a joint in a subject comprising administering to articular cartilage of the subject an amount of a functional domain of parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) are provided.
Abstract:
The present invention discloses osteogenic and anti-adipogenic oxysterols. Agents and methods for protecting, blocking or rescuing marrow stromal cells from the inhibitory effects of oxidative stress on their osteoblastic cellular differentiation are disclosed. Exemplary agents include oxysterols alone or in synergistic combinations, as well as hedgehog or Wnt signaling activators. The synergistic effects of oxysterols and bone morphogenic proteins are also disclosed.
Abstract:
This invention relates, e.g., to a method for expanding mammalian acinar cells, comprising culturing the cells in a cell culture system comprising a cell culture medium and a cell attachment surface, under conditions wherein the acinar cells undergo a 3-4 fold expansion together with transdifferentiation into a modified cell phenotype (IP cells) showing characteristics of acinar cells and liver cells. The invention also relates to a method for transforming these IP cells to insulin-producing cells in vitro, comprising culturing the cells in a novel, defined medium. Also disclosed are suitable culture media for performing these methods, isolated cells having the phenotype of IP cells and/or produced by these methods, and kits for performing the methods.