Isolation of adult multipotential cells by tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) as a marker for identifying and/or isolating adult multipotential cells. The present invention also relates to cell populations enriched by methods of the present invention and therapeutic uses of these cells.

1 . Use of TNAP as a marker for the identification and/or enrichment of adult multipotential cells. 
     
     
         2 . A method of enriching for adult multipotential cells, the method comprising preparing a cell sample from a tissue source and enriching for adult multipotential cells that express the TNAP marker. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2  which comprises:
 contacting the cell sample with a TNAP binding agent under conditions that allows binding of TNAP to the TNAP binding agent; and 
 separating cells bound to the TNAP binding agent. 
 
     
     
         4 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein the TNAP binding agent binds specifically to the BAP isoform of TNAP. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein the anti-TNAP antibody is an antibody that binds to the same epitope as the STRO-3 antibody produced by the hybridoma cell line deposited with ATCC on 19 Dec. 2005 under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty under deposit accession number PTA-7282. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein the anti-TNAP antibody is the STRO-3 antibody produced by the hybridoma cell line deposited with ATCC on 19 Dec. 2005 under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty under deposit accession number PTA-7282. 
     
     
         11 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 2  for identifying the presence of an adult multipotential cell in a cell sample, the method comprising identifying cells in the sample that express the TNAP marker. 
     
     
         18 . An enriched population of adult multipotential cells obtained by a method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . An enriched population of TNAP+ adult multipotential cells. 
     
     
         20 . An expanded cell population obtained by culturing an enriched population of adult multipotential cells according to  claim 18 . 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of generating a tissue specific committed cell population, the method comprising
 culturing a population of adult multipotential cells according to  claim 18  in the presence of one or more stimulatory factors; and   subjecting said cultured population to conditions biasing differentiation of the adult multipotential cells to a specific tissue type.   
     
     
         23 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A composition comprising a population of enriched adult multipotential cells according to  claim 18 . 
     
     
         26 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method for generating or repairing tissue in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an enriched or expanded cell population according to  claim 18 . 
     
     
         30 . A method for generating or repairing tissue in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject a composition according to  claim 25 . 
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 29  wherein the tissue is bone, cardiac, or cartilage tissue. 
     
     
         32 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . An isolated cell which has been obtained by a method according to  claim 1 , or a progeny cell thereof, wherein the cell is genetically modified. 
     
     
         39 - 45 . (canceled)