Mesenchymal Stem Cells Expressing TNF-alpha Receptors

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells which express TNF-α receptor Type I in an amount of at least 13 pg/10 6 cells. Such mesenchymal stem cells inhibit the proliferation of lymphocytes and may be employed, in particular, in the treatment of graft-versus-host disease.

1 . Mesenchymal stem cells which express TNF-α receptor Type I in an amount of at least 13 pg/10 6  cells produced by a method comprising:
 i) obtaining at least one cell population of mesenchymal stem cells from at least one donor; 
 ii) determining the amount of TNF-α receptor Type I expressed by the mesenchymal stem cells in each of said at least one cell population(s); and 
 iii) selecting mesenchymal stem cells which express TNF-α receptor Type I in an amount of at least 13 pg/10 6  cells. 
 
     
     
         2 . The mesenchymal stem cells of  claim 1 , wherein said selected mesenchymal stem cells express TNF-α receptor Type I in an amount of at least 15 pg/10 6  cells. 
     
     
         3 . The mesenchymal stem cells of  claim 1 , wherein said selected mesenchymal stem cells express TNF-α receptor Type I in an amount of at least 18 pg/10 6  cells. 
     
     
         4 . The mesenchymal stem cells of  claim 1 , wherein said mesenchymal stem cells are human mesenchymal stem cells. 
     
     
         5 . The mesenchymal stem cells of  claim 1 , wherein the mesenchymal stem cells are obtained from a single donor. 
     
     
         6 . The mesenchymal stem cells of  claim 1 , where the cells are cultured for at least five passages. 
     
     
         7 . The mesenchymal stem cells of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises cryopreserving the mesenchymal stem cells. 
     
     
         8 . The mesenchymal stem cells of  claim 7 , wherein the mesenchymal stem cells are cryopreserved in a solution comprising 5% human serum albumin (HAS) and 10% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). 
     
     
         9 . The mesenchymal stem cells of  claim 8 , wherein the cryopreservation solution further comprises Plasmalyte A. 
     
     
         10 . The mesenchymal stem cells of  claim 1 , wherein said mesenchymal stem cells have been subjected to cryopreservation at a temperature of about −80° C. 
     
     
         11 . A composition enriched in non-transfected mesenchymal stem cells which express TNF-α receptor Type I in an amount of at least 13 pg/10 6  cells and wherein the mesenchymal stem cells suppress hPBMC proliferation. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the mesnechymal stem cells express TNF-α receptor Type I in an amount of at least 15 pg/10 6  cells. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the mesnechymal stem cells express TNF-α receptor Type I in an amount of at least 18 pg/10 6  cells. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the mesenchymal stem cells are cryopreserved. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 14 , wherein the composition further comprises a solution comprising 5% human serum albumin (HAS) and 10% di methylsulfoxide. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the cryopreservation solution further comprises Plasmalyte A. 
     
     
         20 . A composition comprising culturally expanded mesenchymal stem cells which express TNF-α receptor Type I in an amount of at least 13 pg/10 6  cells and wherein the mesenchymal stem cells suppress hPBMC proliferation.