Immune privileged and modulatory progenitor cells

Abstract

Described herein is a method for modulating an immune reaction between lymphocytes and a body recognized by the lymphocytes as foreign. The method exploits the immunomodulating activity of a new class of progenitor cells termed HUCPVCs derived from the perivascular region of human umbilical cord. The method can also employ soluble factors exuded by cultured HUCPVCs. The method is useful to treat immune disorders including graft versus host disease, autoimmune disorders, and the like.

1 . A method for modulating an immune reaction between lymphocytes and a body recognized by the lymphocytes as foreign, comprising the step of introducing, in an amount effective to inhibit or reduce said immune reaction, an agent selected from (1) umbilical cord perivascular cells, and/or (2) an immunomodulating soluble factor produced by said cells. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said method comprises administering said agent to a subject having or at risk of developing an adverse immune reaction. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the subject has or is at risk for graft versus host disease. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the subject has or is at risk for a mixed lymphocyte reaction. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the subject has or is at risk for graft rejection. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the graft is a skin graft. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the graft is an organ graft. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the graft is a marrow graft. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the graft is a peripheral blood graft. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the subject has an autoimmune disorder. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the subject is afflicted with a leukemia and is at risk for graft versus host disease. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said method comprises exposing a tissue graft, prior to transplantation thereof into a graft recipient, to said agent, wherein said exposing reduces graft versus host disease in said graft recipient. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the agent is umbilical cord perivascular cells. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the agent is human umbilical cord perivascular cells (HUCPVCs). 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the umbilical cord vascular cells comprise a transgene that encodes a protein of interest. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the umbilical cord perivascular cells are substantially MHC double negative HUCPVCs. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the HUCPVCs are administered in a unit dose in the range from 0.01 to  5 million  HUCPVC cells per kilogram of said subject. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the agent is an immunomodulating soluble factor produced by HUCPVCs. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the immunomodulating soluble factor is provided as an extract of medium conditioned by HUCPVC growth. 
     
     
         20 . An extract comprising an immunomodulating soluble factor produced upon culturing of HUCPVs.