Pharmaceutical kits comprising mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract

A method of treating a natural soft skeletal tissue injury in a patient the method comprising administering to the patient a composition of mesenchymal stem cells in liquid suspension enriched compared to the natural source of said cells, or tenocytes derived therefrom. The method is particularly suited to the regeneration of tendons in competitive mammals, such as the superficial digital flexor tendon of the horse.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A composition of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or MSCs and tenocytes derived therefrom in a liquid suspension of bone marrow supernatant wherein the composition of MSCs is enriched compared to a natural source of the MSCs. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein enrichment of the MSCs is at least 2-fold over MSC content in the natural source from which they are enriched. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein enrichment of the MSCs is at least 3-fold, 4-fold, 5-fold, 10-fold, 20-fold, or at least 30 or 40 or 50 or 100-fold, or at least 1000-fold or 10 4 -fold, or  10   5 -fold. 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein cells of the composition contain at least 10% MSCs, or at least 50% MSCs, or at least 60% MSCs, or at least 70% MSCs, or at least 90% MSCs, or at least 95% MSCs, or at least 99% MSCs. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the liquid suspension comprises a gelling agent. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 21 , further comprising biological signals to encourage differentiation of the MSCs into cell types that are useful for regeneration of soft skeletal tissue injuries and discourage differentiation of the MSCs into cell types that are not useful. 
     
     
         27 . The composition  claim 26 , wherein the biological signals comprise one or more growth factors, differentiation factors or regeneration factors. 
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more growth factors, differentiation factors or regeneration factors comprise TGF beta, IGF 1, IGF 2, PDGF, FGF, or COMP. 
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the MSCs are derived from either bone marrow or umbilical cord blood. 
     
     
         30 . A method for treating a soft skeletal tissue injury in a patient, the method comprising administering the composition of  claim 21  to the soft skeletal tissue injury in the patient. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the soft skeletal tissue injury is to a tendon, ligament, intervertebral disc, or meniscus of a human, horse, camel or dog. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the soft skeletal tissue injury is subcutaneous or an accidental laceration. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the soft skeletal tissue is selected from the group consisting of: where the patient is a horse or camel: superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), suspensory ligament, deep flexor tendon, accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), menisci, cruciate ligaments; where the patient is a dog: Achilles tendon, cruciate ligament, meniscus and flexor tendon, and where the patient is a human: Achilles tendon, quadriceps tendon, rotator cuff, lateral or medial epichondylitis, intervertebral disc and meniscus. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the cells of the composition contain at least 10% MSCs, or at least 50% MSCs, or at least 60% MSCs, or at least 70% MSCs, or at least 90% MSCs, or at least 95% MSCs, or at least 99% MSCs. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the liquid suspension gels in situ. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the patient is a human. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the composition further comprises biological signals to encourage differentiation of the MSCs into cell types that are useful for regeneration of soft skeletal tissue injuries and discourage differentiation of the MSCs into cell types that are not useful. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the biological signals comprise one or more growth factors, differentiation factors or regeneration factors. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the one or more growth factors, differentiation factors or regeneration factors comprise TGF beta, IGF 1, IGF 2, PDGF, FGF, or COMP. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the MSCs or MSCs and tenocytes derived therefrom are allogeneic or autologous with respect to the patient. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the MSCs are derived from either: i) the bone marrow of the patient to be treated; or ii) previously recovered umbilical cord blood of the patient to be treated.