SPORE-LIKE CELLS AND USES THEREOF

• US 20100009440A1
• Filed: 07/17/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VCellTherapeutics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vbi Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Vacanti, Martin P., Vacanti, Charles A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,964,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/349
• 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: C12N 5/0602 Vertebrate cells

Abstract

Highly undifferentiated spore-like cells can be isolated from many different tissues and bodily fluids and used to treat a wide variety of disorders.

Claims

1-32. -32. (canceled)

33. A cluster of spore-like cells, comprising spore-like cells that

are multipotent;

are approximately one-tenth to seven microns in diameter;

are viable following oxygen-deprivation for a period of twenty four hours and

have an outer membrane containing one or more dark stripes when viewed by transmission electron microscopy, wherein the aggregate of spore-like cells is produced by culturing isolated spore-like cells.

34. The cluster of spore-like cells of claim 33, wherein the cells are isolated from post-natal animal tissue selected from the group consisting of ectodermal, mesodermal and endodermal tissue.

35. The cluster of spore-like cells of claim 34, wherein the post-natal animal tissue is selected from the group consisting of mammalian, avian, reptilian and amphibian tissue.

36. The cluster of spore-like cells of claim 35, wherein the tissue is selected from the group consisting of heart, intestine, bladder, kidney, liver, lung, adrenal gland, skin, retina, and pancreas.

37. The cluster of spore-like cells of claim 34, wherein the tissue is blood.

38. The cluster of spore-like cells of claim 33, wherein the cells are isolated from a deceased animal.

39. The cluster of spore-like cells of claim 33, wherein the cells are approximately one to seven microns in diameter.

40. The cluster of spore-like cells of claim 33, wherein the cells are approximately one to three microns in diameter.

41. The cluster of spore-like cells of claim 33, wherein at least about half the volume of the cells comprises nucleic acids.

42. The cluster of spore-like cells of claim 33, comprising cells that do not express nestin.

43. The cluster of spore-like cells of claim 33, having a size of between one-tenth and one micron.

44. The cluster of spore-like cells of claim 43, wherein the cells are approximately one tenth to one third of a micron in diameter.

45. An isolated spore-like cell population comprising spore-like cells that

are multipotent;

are less than 1 micron in diameter;

are viable following oxygen-deprivation for a period of twenty four hours, and

have an outer membrane containing one or more dark stripes when viewed by transmission electron microscopy, wherein the aggregate of spore-like cells is produced by culturing isolated spore-like cells.

46. The isolated spore-like cell population of claim 45, wherein the cells are approximately one tenth to one third of a micron in diameter.

47. The isolated spore-like cell population of claim 45, wherein the cells are isolated from post-natal animal tissue selected from the group consisting of ectodermal, mesodermal and endodermal tissue.

48. The isolated spore-like cell population of claim 47, wherein the post-natal animal tissue is selected from the group consisting mammalian, avian, reptilian and amphibian tissue.

49. The isolated spore-like cell population of claim 48, wherein the tissue is selected from the group consisting of heart, intestine, bladder, kidney, liver, lung, adrenal gland, skin, retina, and pancreas.

50. The isolated spore-like cell population of claim 47, wherein the tissue is blood.

51. The isolated spore-like cell population of claim 47, wherein the cells are isolated from a deceased animal.

52. The isolated spore-like cell population of claim 45, wherein at least about half the volume of the spore-like cells comprises nucleic acids.