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 comprising mesenchymal stem cells and a liquid suspension medium, wherein the composition comprises an enriched mesenchymal stem cell content that is at least 2-fold more concentrated than a natural source of the mesenchymal stem cells and the liquid suspension medium comprises one or more of platelet rich plasma, serum, or plasma. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 21 , further comprising differentiated cells derived from the mesenchymal stem cells, wherein the differentiated cells are tenocytes, fibroblasts, adipocytes, myotubes, muscle cells, cartilage or bone cells. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the liquid suspension medium further comprises one or more of growth factors, differentiation factors, regeneration factors, cytokines or cartilage oligomeric matrix protein. 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the liquid suspension medium further comprises a gelling agent that gels the composition in situ. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the natural source of the mesenchymal stem cells is bone marrow, umbilical cord blood, peripheral blood, fat, muscle, blood vessels, periosteum and perichondrium. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the natural source of the mesenchymal stem cells is a human, horse, dog, cat or camel. 
     
     
         27 . A method for treating a soft skeletal tissue injury in a subject, the method comprising administering the composition of  claim 21  to the soft skeletal tissue injury site in the subject. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the composition is administered to the soft skeletal tissue injury site intravenously, arthroscopically, surgically, subcutaneously or by direct injection into the site. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the mesenchymal stem cells are autologous mesenchymal stem cells with respect to the subject. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the mesenchymal stem cells are allogenic mesenchymal stem cells with respect to the subject. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the composition comprises a gelling agent that gels the composition in situ after administration to the soft skeletal tissue injury site in the subject. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the soft skeletal tissue injury is a natural subcutaneous strain induced injury, subcutaneous injury, injury to the soft skeletal tissue, tendon injury, ligament injury, intervertebral disc or meniscus injury, torn tendon, torn ligament, tendinitis, tendinopathy, intratendinous partial rupture, suspensory ligament injury, superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injury, deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) injury, intra-articular injury, intrathecal injury, intra-articular collagenous injury, accessory ligament injury, cruciate ligament injury, desmitis, bowed tendon, bowed leg, achilles tendon injury, quadriceps tendon injury, rotator cuff injury, lateral or medial epichondylitis, cruciate ligament injury, intervertebral disc injury or strain injury. 
     
     
         33 . A kit comprising a first container and a second container, the first container comprising a composition of  claim 21  and the second container comprising a liquid suspension medium comprising growth factors, differentiation factors, regeneration factors, cytokines, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein, or a gelling agent, and instructions for administering same to a subject, wherein the contents of the first container and second container are mixed prior to the administering. 
     
     
         34 . A method for making a composition of  claim 21 , the method comprising collecting mesenchymal stem cells from a natural source, centrifuging the mesenchymal stem cells to provide an intermediate layer between plasma and residue, collecting the intermediate layer and culturing cells of the intermediate layer in vitro to generate an increased number of mesenchymal stem cells, and resuspending the increased number of mesenchymal stem cells in a liquid suspension medium comprising one or more of platelet rich plasma, serum, or plasma to provide a composition enriched for mesenchymal stem cells having a concentration of mesenchymal stem cells that is at least 2 fold greater than that of the natural source. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the mesenchymal stem cells are enriched in vitro by at least one passage of the cells in culture. 
     
     
         36 . A method of  claim 34 , wherein the liquid suspension medium further comprises at least one of growth factors, differentiation factors, regeneration factors, cytokines, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein, or a gelling agent that gels the composition in situ.