Production of cartilage tissue using cells isolated from Wharton's jelly

• US 5,919,702 A
• Filed: 10/23/1996
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Tissue Science Incorporated
• Inventors: San Roman, Julia, Purchio, Anthony F., Naughton, Brian A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stanton, Brian R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REYNOLDS, DEBORAH J
• Application Number:
  US08/735,620
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 435/235, 435/325, 435/378, 435/377, 435/366, 424/93.1, 424/93.21, 424/93.7
• US Class Current: 435/378
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/12 Materials from mammals; Compositions comprising non-specified tissues or cells; Compositions comprising non-embryonic stem cells; Genetically modified cells vaccines or medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies A61K39/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/00 Medicinal preparations containing peptides peptides containing beta-lactam rings A61K31/00; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, A61K31/00; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type A61K31/48; containing macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units A61K31/74; medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies A61K39/00; medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients, e.g. peptides as drug carriers, A61K47/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3633 Extracellular matrix [ECM]
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3654 Cartilage, e.g. meniscus
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3817 Cartilage-forming cells, e.g. pre-chondrocytes
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3852 Cartilage, e.g. meniscus
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3895 using specific culture conditions, e.g. stimulating differentiation of stem cells, pulsatile flow conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/00 Drugs for dermatological disorders
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 19/00 Drugs for skeletal disorders
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/85 for animal cells
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2500/38 Vitamins
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/15 Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0655 Chondrocytes; Cartilage

Abstract

The invention relates to the isolation and use of pre-chondrocytes from the umbilical cord, specifically from Wharton'"'"'s jelly, that give rise to chondrocytes which produce cartilage. The isolated pre-chondrocytes, or the chondrocytes to which they give rise, can be mitotically expanded in culture and used in the production of new cartilage tissue for therapeutic use. "Banks" of pre-chondrocytes or chondrocytes can be stored frozen, and thawed and used to produce new cartilage tissue as needed.

Claims

1. A method of isolating a pre-chondrocyte from Wharton'"'"'s jelly of the umbilical cord comprising, collecting Wharton'"'"'s jelly comprising pre-chondrocytes from an umbilical cord, culturing the Wharton'"'"'s jelly in vitro under conditions wherein said pre-chondrocytes proliferate, and isolating the pre-chondrocyte therefrom.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising culturing the prechondrocytes in a culture medium containing one or more growth factors, wherein the pre-chondrocytes undergo mitotic expansion.

3. A method of isolating a chondrocyte from Wharton'"'"'s jelly of the umbilical cord comprising, collecting Wharton'"'"'s jelly comprising pre-chondrocytes from an umbilical cord, culturing the Wharton'"'"'s jelly in vitro under conditions wherein said pre-chondrocytes proliferate, isolating the pre-chondrocytes therefrom, culturing the pre-chondrocytes under conditions that induce the production of chondrocytes capable of producing cartilage tissue, and isolating the chondrocyte.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the pre-chondrocytes are cultured in a culture medium containing one or more growth factors, wherein the pre-chondrocytes undergo mitotic expansion.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising culturing the chondrocyte in a culture medium containing one or more growth factors, wherein the chondrocytes undergo mitotic expansion.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the chondrocyte cells are capable of secreting an extracellular matrix.