Methods and compositions for enhancing cartilage repair

Abstract

The invention relates to methods of enhancing repair of a cartilage and/or inducing formation of a cartilage by administering a cell, which expresses a factor of the T-box family, which includes inter-alia the brachyury. In another embodiment, the invention relates to an engineered cell, which is transfected with a vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a factor of the T-box family, thereby expressing a factor of the T-box family. In another embodiment, the invention relates to compositions comprising a vector, which comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a factor of the T-box family and in another embodiment the composition-comprising cell that expresses a factor of the T-box family, which includes inter-alia the brachyury.

1 - 10 . (canceled)  
     
     
         11 . A method of enhancing repair of a cartilage in the body comprising the step of administrating a recombinant vector which comprises a nucleic acid encoding a factor of the T-box family to the cartilage of a subject, thereby enhancing repair of the cartilage.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said factor of the T-box is brachyury.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said method further comprises administering a recombinant vector which comprises a nucleic acid encoding a factor which upregulates the expression of the T-box transcription factor.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said factor which upregulates the expression of the factor of the T-box is FGF or BMP2.  
     
     
         15 . A method of inducing formation of a cartilage in the body comprising the step of administrating a recombinant vector which comprises a nucleic acid encoding a factor of the T-box family to the cartilage of a subject, thereby inducing formation of the cartilage.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said factor of the T-box is brachyury.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said method further comprises administering a recombinant vector which comprises a nucleic acid encoding a factor which upregulates the expression of the T-box transcription factor.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said factor which upregulates the expression of the factor of the T-box is FGF or BMP2.  
     
     
         19 . A method of inducing chondrocyte differentiation comprising the step of administering of a recombinant vector which comprises a nucleic acid encoding a factor of the T-box family, thereby inducing chondrocyte formation.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said factor of the T-box is brachyury.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said method further comprises administering a recombinant vector which comprises a nucleic acid encoding a factor which upregulates the expression of the T-box transcription factor.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said factor which upregulates the expression of the factor of the T-box is FGF or BMP2.  
     
     
         23 - 48 . (canceled)  
     
     
         49 . A composition comprising at least one recombinant vector which comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding at least one factor of the T-box family and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         50 . The composition of  claim 49 , wherein said composition is a pharmaceutically composition.  
     
     
         51 . The composition of  claim 49 , wherein said factor of the T-box is brachyury.  
     
     
         52 . The composition of  claim 49 , wherein said method further comprises administering a recombinant vector which comprises a nucleic acid encoding a factor which upregulates the expression of the T-box transcription factor.  
     
     
         53 . The composition of  claim 52 , wherein said factor which upregulates the expression of the factor of the T-box is FGF or BMP2.  
     
     
         54 - 66 . (canceled)