Expansion Of Renewable Stem Cell Populations

Abstract

Ex vivo and in vivo methods of expansion of renewable stem cells, expanded populations of renewable stem cells and their uses.

1 - 400 . (canceled) 
     
     
         401 . A method of expanding a population of mesenchymal cells ex-vivo, the method comprising:
 (a) culturing said cells ex-vivo under conditions which allow proliferation of said cells, and   (b) ex-vivo providing said cells with added nicotinamide thereby ex-vivo expanding the population of cells.   
     
     
         402 . The method of  claim 401 , wherein said nicotinamide is added in an amount of 1.0 mM to 10 mM. 
     
     
         403 . The method of  claim 401 , wherein said mesenchymal cells are mesenchymal stem cells. 
     
     
         404 . The method of  claim 402 , wherein said mesenchymal cells are mesenchymal stem cells. 
     
     
         405 . The method of  claim 401 , wherein said conditions comprise providing a culture medium comprising nutrients and growth factors. 
     
     
         406 . The method of  claim 401 , wherein said conditions comprise providing serum. 
     
     
         407 . The method of  claim 401 , wherein said culturing said cells in the presence of said added nicotinamide is for a period of up to three weeks. 
     
     
         408 . The method of  claim 401 , wherein said culturing said cells in the presence of said added nicotinamide is for a period of up to 7 to 10 weeks. 
     
     
         409 . The method of  claim 401 , wherein said cells are cultured in the presence of 1.0 mM of added nicotinamide. 
     
     
         410 . The method of  claim 401 , wherein said cells are cultured in the presence of 5.0 mM of added nicotinamide. 
     
     
         411 . The method of  claim 401 , wherein said cells are cultured in the presence of 10.0 mM of added nicotinamide. 
     
     
         412 . A transplantable cell preparation comprising an expanded population of cells cultured ex-vivo according to the method of  claim 401  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         413 . A method of transplanting cells into a subject, comprising:
 expanding a population of cells ex-vivo according to the method of  claim 401 , and administering the expanded cell population to the subject.