Isolation of spore-like cells from tissues exposed to extreme conditions

Abstract

Highly undifferentiated spore-like cells can be isolated from many different tissues and bodily fluids after those tissues and fluids have been exposed to extreme conditions. The spore-like cells can be used to treat a wide variety of disorders.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for isolating a spore-like cell from a biological tissue or fluid, the method comprising 
 (a) obtaining a tissue or fluid that has been exposed to an environment in which differentiated or partially differentiated cells in the tissue or fluid die and    (b) separating the spore-like cells from the differentiated or partially differentiated cells that have died.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising disrupting the tissue or fluid either before or after step (a).  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein disrupting the tissue or fluid comprises cutting the tissue into pieces, scraping the tissue with a blunt instrument, or passing the tissue or fluid through a series of devices having progressively smaller apertures.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the devices are pipettes.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the smallest pipette has an inner bore diameter of approximately 15 microns.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the devices are filters.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the finest filter has a pore size of approximately 15 microns.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biological tissue comprises a tissue that originates from the endoderm.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biological tissue comprises a tissue that originates from the mesoderm.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biological tissue comprises a tissue that originates from the ectoderm.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biological fluid comprises blood, urine, or saliva.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biological fluid is cerebrospinal fluid.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the environment is an oxygen-poor environment.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the environment is one in which the temperature is above or below the range of temperatures in which differentiated or partially differentiated cells can survive.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the environment contains a toxin or infectious agent that kills differentiated or partially differentiated cells.  
     
     
         16 . A method for isolating a spore-like cell from a biological tissue or fluid, the method comprising obtaining a tissue or fluid that has been exposed to an environment that is either 42° C., or more, or 0° C., or less, placing the tissue or fluid in a tissue culture vessel, allowing the spore-like cells to adhere to the vessel, and rinsing away non-spore-like cells, the tissue or fluid having been exposed to the environment without first being treated with a protective agent.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising disrupting the tissue or fluid either before or after exposure to the environment or before or after placement in the tissue culture vessel.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein disrupting the tissue comprises cutting the tissue into pieces, scraping the tissue with a blunt instrument, or passing the tissue or fluid through a series of devices having progressively smaller apertures.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the devices are pipettes.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the smallest pipette has an inner bore diameter of approximately 15 microns.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the devices are filters.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the finest filter has a pore size of approximately 15 microns.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the biological tissue or fluid originates from the endoderm.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the biological tissue or fluid originates from the mesoderm.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the biological tissue is a tissue that originates from the ectoderm.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the biological fluid is blood, urine, or saliva.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the biological fluid is cerebrospinal fluid.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the environment is 0° C. or less and the protective agent is a cryopreservative.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the tissue or fluid is intentionally exposed to the environment.