Abstract: Disclosed are methods for isolating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC). More particularly, the present invention discloses methods for isolating endothelial progenitor cells that exhibit self-renewal and differentiation capacity. The isolated cellular population of the present invention is useful in a wide range of clinical and research setting including inter alia, the in vitro or in vivo generation of endothelial cells and the therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of a range of conditions via the administration of these cells. Also facilitated is the isolation of endothelial progenitor cells for research purposes such as in vitro based screening systems for testing the therapeutic impact and/or toxicity of potential treatment or culture regimes to which these cells may be exposed to. The present invention also discloses methods for isolating mesenchymal stem cells, in particular mesenchymal stem cells of fetal and/or maternal origin.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for isolating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC). More particularly, the present invention discloses methods for isolating endothelial progenitor cells that exhibit self-renewal and differentiation capacity. The isolated cellular population of the present invention is useful in a wide range of clinical and research setting including inter alia, the in vitro or in vivo generation of endothelial cells and the therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of a range of conditions via the administration of these cells. Also facilitated is the isolation of endothelial progenitor cells for research purposes such as in vitro based screening systems for testing the therapeutic impact and/or toxicity of potential treatment or culture regimes to which these cells may be exposed to. The present invention also discloses methods for isolating mesenchymal stem cells, in particular mesenchymal stem cells of fetal and/or maternal origin.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for isolating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC). More particularly, the present invention discloses methods for isolating endothelial progenitor cells that exhibit self-renewal and differentiation capacity. The isolated cellular population of the present invention is useful in a wide range of clinical and research setting including inter alia, the in vitro or in vivo generation of endothelial cells and the therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of a range of conditions via the administration of these cells. Also facilitated is the isolation of endothelial progenitor cells for research purposes such as in vitro based screening systems for testing the therapeutic impact and/or toxicity of potential treatment or culture regimes to which these cells may be exposed to. The present invention also discloses methods for isolating mesenchymal stem cells, in particular mesenchymal stem cells of fetal and/or maternal origin.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for isolating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC). More particularly, the present invention discloses methods for isolating endothelial progenitor cells that exhibit self-renewal and differentiation capacity. The isolated cellular population of the present invention is useful in a wide range of clinical and research setting including inter alia, the in vitro or in vivo generation of endothelial cells and the therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of a range of conditions via the administration of these cells. Also facilitated is the isolation of endothelial progenitor cells for research purposes such as in vitro based screening systems for testing the therapeutic impact and/or toxicity of potential treatment or culture regimes to which these cells may be exposed to. The present invention also discloses methods for isolating mesenchymal stem cells, in particular mesenchymal stem cells of fetal and/or maternal origin.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method for generating mesenchymal stem cells from pluripotent cells, the method comprising (i) differentiating a population of pluripotent stem cells in the presence of an inhibitor of endogenous activin and TGF-? signalling and (ii) passaging the cells differentiated in step (i) in the presence of a mesenchymal stem cell medium for a time and under conditions sufficient to produce mesenchymal stem cells. The present invention also relates to mesenchymal stem cells produced by the methods of the present invention and uses thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides antibody which can bind to an antigen present in a heme-containing cell and to which a fluorophore with an emission wavelength of between 420 nm and 500 nm is bound. The antibody of the invention can bind to an antigen of interest in a heme-containing cell and, due to the fluorophore, the binding interaction can be visualized. This facilitates the use of fluorescent labels for immunophenotyping of red blood cells and, in particular, fetal red blood cells within a blood sample from a pregnant female. It also facilitates simultaneous use of immunophenotyping and fluorescence-based nucleic acid analytical techniques such as FISH. Genotype and phenotype can be detected at the same time.