Enhancing vessel lesion homing and repair potential of stem cells

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods of enhancing repair of vascular lesions involving the administration of cells in which TGF-β expression and/or activity has been transiently blocked. Other methods involve the administration of a TGF-β blocking agent to a subject who has a vascular lesion or is at risk of developing a vascular lesion. Alternatively, a TGF-β blocking agent and treated cells are co-administered to a subject in need thereof.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method of diminishing diabetic retinopathy in a subject comprising administering to said subject CD34+ cells treated, ex vivo, with a TGF-β1 blocking agent under conditions to enhance homing ability of said CD34+ cells. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said administering comprises parenterally or intraoptically injecting cells. 
     
     
         19 . A method of enhancing repair of vessel lesion in a subject comprising administering to said subject CD34+ cells treated with a TGF-β1 blocking agent under conditions to enhance homing ability of said CD34+ cells. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said administering comprises parenterally injecting cells. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said CD34+ cells are autologous or allogeneic in origin. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
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         24 . A method of treating a condition in a patient in need thereof, said method comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a TGF-β1 blocking agent, and, optionally, co-administering stem cells subjected, ex vivo, to a TGF-β1 blocking agent, wherein said condition is a vessel lesion. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said condition is a stroke. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said condition is a myocardial infarction. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said condition is choroidal neovascularization. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said condition is diabetes. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said condition is nephropathy. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said administering comprises intraocular delivery. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said intraocular delivery comprises intravitreal injection. 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
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         39 . A lesion treating composition comprising treated CD34+ cells, said treated CD34+ cells obtained by procuring CD34+ cells from a subject and treating said procured CD34+ cells, ex vivo, by blocking activity of TGF-β1 under conditions to enhance homing ability of said CD34+ cells. 
     
     
         40 . An isolated, enriched population of CD34+ stem cells comprising an effective amount of an exogenous antisense oligonucleotide that blocks endogenous TGF-β1.