Cell populations which co-express CD49c and CD90

Abstract

Substantially homogenous cells populations which co-express CD49c, CD90 and telomerase are made. In one embodiment, humans suffering from a degenerative, traumatic, acute injury, cardiac or neurological condition are treated with the substantially homogenous cells populations which co-express CD49c, CD90 and telomerase. In another embodiment, committed progenitor cells are made are made by selecting from a cultured source of a cell population which co-express CD49c and CD90 and modifying the cell population. The committed progenitor cells can be employed to treat a human suffering from a degenerative, traumatic, acute injury, cardiac or neurological condition and to formulate pharmaceutical compositions. In a further embodiment, a substantially homogenous population of cells which co-express CD49c, CD90 and at least one cardiac-related transcription factor is made and can be used to treat a human suffering from a cardiac condition.

1 . (canceled)  
     
     
         2 . A method of treating a myocardial infarction in a human, comprising the step of administering a substantially homogenous cell population which co-expresses CD49c, CD90 and at least one cardiac-related transcription factor to the human.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the cardiac-related transcription factor is selected from the group consisting of GATA4, Irx4 and Nkx2.5.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the substantially homogenous cell population co-expresses CD49c, CD90, GATA4, Irx4 and Nkx2.5.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the substantially homogenous cell population co-expresses CD49c, CD90, telomerase, GATA4, Irx4 and Nkx2.5.  
     
     
         6 . A method of treating a myocardial infarction in a human, comprising the steps of: 
 a) culturing a source of a cell population under a low oxygen condition;    b) treating the cultured source of the cell population with a protein kinase C inhibitor and a DNA methylation inhibitor; and    c) administering the treated cell population to the human.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the treated cell population is administered proximate to the myocardial infarction.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the treated cell population is administered into a cardiac muscle.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further including selecting from the treated cell population, a population of cells which co-expresses CD49c, CD90, and at least one cardiac-specific marker.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the selected cell population further includes cells which express telomerase.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the cardiac-specific marker is selected from the group consisting of GATA4, Irx4 and Nkx2.5.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the source of cell population includes a bone marrow source.  
     
     
         13 . A method of treating a myocardial infarction in a human, comprising the steps of: 
 a) treating a cell population which co-expresses CD49c and CD90 with a protein kinase C inhibitor and a DNA methylation inhibitor; and    b) administering the treated cells to the human.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cell population is derived from bone marrow.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cell population further includes cells which co-express telomerase.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cell population expresses at least one cardiac-related transcription factor selected from the group consisting of GATA4, Irx4 and Nkx2.5.  
     
     
         17 . A method of treating a congestive heart failure in a human, comprising the step of administering a substantially homogenous cell population which co-expresses CD49c, CD90 and at least one cardiac-related transcription factor to the human.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the substantially homogenous cell population co-expresses CD49c, CD90, GATA4, Irx4 and Nkx2.5.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the substantially homogenous cell population co-expresses CD49c, CD90, telomerase, GATA4, Irx4 and Nkx2.5.  
     
     
         20 . A method of treating a congestive heart failure in a human, comprising the steps of: 
 a) culturing a source of a cell population under a low oxygen condition;    b) treating the cultured source of the cell population with a protein kinase C inhibitor and a DNA methylation inhibitor; and    c) administering the treated cell population to the human.