Perivascular mesenchymal precursor cells

Abstract

Mesenchymal precursors cells have been isolated from perivascular niches from a range of tissues utilizing a perivascular marker. A new mesenchymal precursor cell phenotype is described characterized by the presence of the perivascular marker 3G5, and preferably also alpha smooth muscle actin together with early developmental markers such as MUC 18, VCAM-1 and STRO-1 bri . The perivascular mesenchymal precursor cell is multipotential and is shown to form, vascular tissue, as well as bone marrow dentin and pulp. A method of enriching using cell sorting based on these markers is also described.

1 - 67 . (canceled) 
     
     
         68 . A method of generating fat tissue comprising culturing a population of cells enriched for 3G5 positive cells, wherein the 3G5 positive cells are mesenchymal precursor cells which comprise mesenchymal precursor cells capable of giving rise to colony forming unit-fibroblast (CFU-F) and wherein the population of cells enriched for 3G5 positive cells promotes the development of adipocytes. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the population of 3G5 positive cells is enriched from a perivascular niche within a non-haemopoietic vascularised tissue. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the vascularised tissue is selected from the group consisting of skin, liver, kidney, heart, adipose tissue, teeth, dental pulp, retina, brain, hair follicles, intestine, lung, spleen, lymph node, thymus, pancreas, bone, ligament, bone marrow, tendon and skeletal muscle. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the 3G5 positive cells are also positive for the marker MUC18/CD146 or STRO-1 bri . 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the 3G5 positive cells are also positive for one or more markers expressed by perivascular cells selected from the group comprising, but not limited to, THY-1, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, PECAM-1, CD49a/CD49b/CD29, CD49c/CD29, CD49d/CD29, CD29, CD61, integrin beta 5, 6-19, thrombomodulin, CD1O, CD13, SCF, STRO-1 bri , PDGF-R, EGF-R, IGF1-R, NGF-R, FGF-R, Leptin-R (STRO-2). 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the 3G5 positive cells do not express the hematopoietic markers CD34, CD45 or glycophorin A. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the vascularized tissue is mammalian. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the population of cells enriched for 3G5 positive cells comprises at least 0.1% STRO-1 bri  MPCs. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the 3G5 positive cells positive for the markers STRO-1 bri , MUC 18/CD146, and alpha-smooth muscle actin. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein at least 15% of the total cells of the enriched population are positive for the marker 3G5. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein at least 30% of the total cells of the enriched population are positive for the marker 3G5. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the 3G5 positive cells differentiate into adipocytes. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the culturing step is conducted in vitro. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the culturing step is conducted in vivo.