Abstract: The present application discloses method of treating spinal cord injury, or a condition associated with or caused by spinal cord injury comprising regenerating nerve or attenuating degeneration of nerve at a site of nerve injury comprising administering at or an area near an injured nerve, a nerve regenerating or nerve degeneration attenuating amount of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) lipid phosphatase inhibiting peptide.

Abstract: A method for restoring a damaged or degenerating intervertebral disc, which includes administering a mixed cell composition containing mammalian connective tissue cells and mammalian cells expressing TGF-?1 into the intervertebral disc defect site.

Abstract: A method for preventing and treating back pain including discogenic back pain, which includes administering a mixed cell composition containing mammalian connective tissue cells and mammalian cells expressing TGF-?1 into the intervertebral disc defect site.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for evaluating effectiveness of a cell therapeutic agent. When using TGF-? and/or TSP-1 expression level(s) in: (a) a first population of transformed mammalian cells with TGF-?; and (b) a second population of untransformed mammalian cells with the same gene, respectively, as a criterion for determining effectiveness of a cell therapeutic agent, and whether or not expression thereof, it is possible to definitely determine the therapeutic efficacy of each cell therapeutic agent prior to initiation of the treatment. In addition, since use of a cell therapeutic agent without therapeutic effects is avoided, undesired procedures and side effects may not be entailed.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a method of treating osteoarthritis, which includes obtaining a member of a transforming growth factor superfamily of proteins; obtaining a population of cultured mammalian cells that may contain vector encoding a gene, or a population of cultured connective tissue cells that do not contain any vector encoding a gene; and then transferring the protein and the connective tissue cells into an arthritic joint space of a mammalian host, such that the activity of the combination within the joint space results in regenerating connective tissue.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to a mixed cell composition to generate a therapeutic protein at a target site by providing a first population of mammalian cells transfected or transduced with a gene that is sought to be expressed, and a second population of mammalian cells that have not been transfected or transduced with the gene, wherein endogenously existing forms of the second population of mammalian cells are decreased at the target site, and wherein generation of the therapeutic protein by the first population of mammalian cells at the target site stimulates the second population cells to induce a therapeutic effect.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method for preventing or retarding degeneration of intervertebral disc at an intervertebral disc defect site, which includes injecting a mammalian connective tissue cell into the intervertebral disc defect site.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to a composition comprising primed connective tissue cells and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier thereof.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method for preventing or retarding degeneration of intervertebral disc at an intervertebral disc defect site, which includes injecting a mammalian connective tissue cell into the intervertebral disc defect site.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method for preventing or retarding degeneration of intervertebral disc at an intervertebral disc defect site, which includes injecting a mammalian connective tissue cell into the intervertebral disc defect site.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method of growing or proliferating nerve cells by contacting the cells with phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) lipid phosphatase inhibiting peptide.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method of growing or proliferating nerve cells by contacting the cells with phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) lipid phosphatase inhibiting peptide.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method for preventing or retarding degeneration of intervertebral disc at an intervertebral disc defect site, which includes injecting a mammalian connective tissue cell into the intervertebral disc defect site.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a method of treating osteoarthritis, which includes obtaining a member of a transforming growth factor superfamily of proteins; obtaining a population of cultured mammalian cells that may contain vector encoding a gene, or a population of cultured connective tissue cells that do not contain any vector encoding a gene; and then transferring the protein and the connective tissue cells into an arthritic joint space of a mammalian host, such that the activity of the combination within the joint space results in regenerating connective tissue.

Abstract: The subject invention is related to a cell-mediated gene therapy treatment using a cell composition that includes bioadhesive material. The bioadhesive material allows targeted and localized delivery of therapeutic somatic cells to the site of interest.

Abstract: The subject invention is related to a cell-mediated gene therapy treatment for orthopedic disease using a member belonging to the transforming growth factor-? (TGF-?) superfamily. TGF-? gene therapy as a new treatment method for degenerative arthritis is demonstrated. After transfection of TGF-? cDNA expression vectors into fibroblasts (NIH 3T3-TGF-?1), the cells were injected into rabbit achilles tendon and knee joints with artificially-made cartilage defects. Intratendinous injections were performed to determine the optimal concentration for in vivo expression. Partially defected cartilage model was made to simulate degenerative arthritis of the knee joint. The partial cartilage defect treated with the cell-mediated gene therapy procedure was covered by newly formed hyaline cartilage which indicates that the cells survived and stimulated matrix formation in this area. Completely denuded cartilage areas were covered by fibrous collagen.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to a mixed cell composition to generate a therapeutic protein at a target site by providing a first population of mammalian cells transfected or transduced with a gene that is sought to be expressed, and a second population of mammalian cells that have not been transfected or transduced with the gene, wherein endogenously existing forms of the second population of mammalian cells are decreased at the target site, and wherein generation of the therapeutic protein by the first population of mammalian cells at the target site stimulates the second population cells to induce a therapeutic effect.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to a mixed cell composition to generate a therapeutic protein at a target site by providing a first population of mammalian cells transfected or transduced with a gene that is sought to be expressed, and a second population of mammalian cells that have not been transfected or transduced with the gene, wherein endogenously existing forms of the second population of mammalian cells are decreased at the target site, and wherein generation of the therapeutic protein by the first population of mammalian cells at the target site stimulates the second population cells to induce a therapeutic effect.

Abstract: The present application discloses a MoMSV/MoMLV hybrid-based retroviral vector, wherein gag and pol genes are completely removed.

Abstract: The present application describes a method of regenerating nerve, which steps include generating a recombinant viral or plasmid vector comprising a DNA sequence encoding a member of a transforming growth factor superfamily of proteins operatively linked to a promoter; transfecting in vitro a population of cultured cells with the recombinant vector, resulting in a population of the cultured cells; and transplanting the transfected cells to an area near an injured nerve, such that expression of the DNA sequence within the area near the injured nerve causes regeneration of the nerve.