Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and methods for their novel use in the repair of cardiac damage and treatment of inflammatory diseases. The invention also provides methods for using TSG-6 protein that is secreted by MSCs under certain conditions, for repair of cardiac damage and inflammatory disease. The compositions of the invention may be particularly useful in restoring cardiac function following cardiac damage, including, but not limited to, myocardial infarction, as well as in reducing symptoms of inflammatory disease.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses an osteogenic composition comprising mesenchymal stem cells pre-cultured in the presence of an agent that accelerates canonical Wnt signaling therein. Also, provided are osteogenic compositions incorporated into a biocompatible gel. The present invention provides methods for treating bone degeneration or injury associated with a pathophysiological condition in a mammal or for accelerating repair of a skeletal injury in a mammal by administering to the mammal or contacting the site of injury with the osteogenic composition.

Abstract: Methods of treating patients who are suffering from a disease, disorder or condition characterized by a bone cartilage or lung defect are disclosed. The methods comprising the step of intravenous administration of stromal cells isolated from normal syngeneic individuals or intravenous administration of stromal cells isolated from the patient subsequent to correction of the genetic defect in the isolated cells. Implant devices comprising a container that has at least one membrane surface and stromal cells isolated from bone marrow that comprise a gene construct are disclosed. The gene construct in the stromal cells comprises a nucleotide sequence that encodes a beneficial protein operably linked to regulatory elements which function in stromal cells. Methods of treating individuals with diseases, disorders or conditions which can be treated with a beneficial protein, including diseases, disorders or conditions characterized by gene defects are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of treating a human patient having a disease, disorder or condition of the central nervous system are disclosed. The methods include obtaining a bone marrow sample from a human donor, isolating stromal cells from the bone marrow sample, and administering the isolated stromal cells to the central nervous system of the human patient, wherein the presence of the isolated stromal cells in the brain effects treatment of the disease, disorder or condition. Stromal cells which are isolated may be cultured in vitro, they may be genetically engineered to produce therapeutic compounds, and/or they may be pre-differentiated prior to administration into the central nervous system.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for inducing marrow stromal cells to differentiate into neural cells by way of increasing intracellular levels of cyclic AMP. The invention also encompasses methods of producing a neural cell by causing a marrow stromal cell to differentiate into a neural cell by increasing intracellular levels of cyclic AMP. Methods for treating a human patient in need of neural cells are also disclosed, as well as methods for treating a human patient having a disease, condition, or disorder of the central nervous system.

Abstract: Methods of treating patients who are suffering from a disease, disorder or condition characterized by a bone cartilage or lung defect are disclosed. The methods comprising the step of intravenous administration of stromal cells isolated from normal syngeneic individuals or intravenous administration of stromal cells isolated from the patient subsequent to correction of the genetic defect in the isolated cells. Implant devices comprising a container that has at least one membrane surface and stromal cells isolated from bone marrow that comprise a gene construct are disclosed. The gene construct in the stromal cells comprises a nucleotide sequence that encodes a beneficial protein operably linked to regulatory elements which function in stromal cells. Methods of treating individuals with diseases, disorders or conditions which can be treated with a beneficial protein, including diseases, disorders or conditions characterized by gene defects are disclosed.

Abstract: Multipotent stromal cells “MSCs” have been described as consisting of at least two populations of cells, rapidly self-renewing stem cells (RS-MSCs), and larger, slowly replicating cells (mMSCs). The present invention provides methods for enhancing engraftment of MSCs in vivo by administering an enriched fraction of RS-MSCs that express certain cell surface markers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of inducing differentiation of mammalian bone marrow stromal cells into neuronal cells by contacting marrow stromal cells with a neuronal differentiation-inducing compounds. Neuronal differentiation-inducing compounds of the invention include anti-oxidants such as, but not limited to, beta-mercaptoethanol, dimethylsulfoxide, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, ascorbic acid, dimethylfumarate, and n-acetylcysteine. Once induced to differentiate into neuronal cells, the cells can be used for cell therapy, gene therapy, or both, for treatment of diseases, disorders, or conditions of the central nervous system.

Abstract: The invention includes in vitro methods of inducing and enhancing proliferation of human marrow stromal cells for use in, for example, gene therapy and transplantation methods. The invention also includes a method of assessing the expandability (i.e., proliferative capacity) of human marrow stromal cells. In addition, the invention includes a conditioned medium for enhancing proliferation of human marrow stromal cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of marrow stromal cells to enhance hematopoiesis in a mammal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of inducing differentiation of mammalian bone marrow stromal cells into neuronal cells by contacting marrow stromal cells with a neuronal differentiation-inducing compounds. Neuronal differentiation-inducing compounds of the invention include anti-oxidants such as, but not limited to, beta-mercaptoethanol, dimethylsulfoxide, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, ascorbic acid, dimethylfumarate, and n-acetylcysteine. Once induced to differentiate into neuronal cells, the cells can be used for cell therapy, gene therapy, or both, for treatment of diseases, disorders, or conditions of the central nervous system.

Abstract: Marrow stromal cells (MSCS) are adult stem cells from bone marrow that can differentiate into multiple non-hematopoietic cell lineages. Colonies of human MSCs were shown to contain both small, rapidly self-renewing stem cells (RS cells) and large, more mature cells (mMSCs). Samples enriched for RS cells had a greater potential for multipotential differentiation than samples enriched for mMSCs. Also, RS cells have a series of surface epitopes and expressed proteins that can be used to differentiate RS cells from mMSCs. The results suggest that it will be important to distinguish the two major sub-populations of MSCs in defining their biology and their potentials for cell and gene therapy.

Abstract: The invention relates to peptides and peptidomimetics which inhibit assembly of human type I collagen. Methods of identifying such peptides and peptidomimetics are also included in the invention.

Abstract: Methods of treating patients who are suffering from a disease, disorder or condition characterized by a bone cartilage or lung defect are disclosed. The methods comprising the step of intravenous administration of stromal cells isolated from normal syngeneic individuals or intravenous administration of stromal cells isolated from the patient subsequent to correction of the genetic defect in the isolated cells. Implant devices comprising a container that has at least one membrane surface and stromal cells isolated from bone marrow that comprise a gene construct are disclosed. The gene construct in the stromal cells comprises a nucleotide sequence that encodes a beneficial protein operably linked to regulatory elements which function in stromal cells. Methods of treating individuals with diseases, disorders or conditions which can be treated with a beneficial protein, including diseases, disorders or conditions characterized by gene defects are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of marrow stromal cells to enhance hematopoiesis in a mammal.

Abstract: Methods of treating patients who are suffering from a disease, disorder or condition characterized by a bone cartilage or lung defect are disclosed. The methods comprising the step of intravenous administration of stromal cells isolated from normal syngeneic individuals or intravenous administration of stromal cells isolated from the patient subsequent to correction of the genetic defect in the isolated cells. Implant devices comprising a container that has at least one membrane surface and stromal cells isolated from bone marrow that comprise a gene construct are disclosed. The gene construct in the stromal cells comprises a nucleotide sequence that encodes a beneficial protein operably linked to regulatory elements which function in stromal cells. Methods of treating individuals with diseases, disorders or conditions which can be treated with a beneficial protein, including diseases, disorders or conditions characterized by gene defects are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of treating a human patient having a disease, disorder or condition of the central nervous system are disclosed. The methods include obtaining a bone marrow sample from a human donor, isolating stromal cells from the bone marrow sample, and administering the isolated stromal cells to the central nervous system of the human patient, wherein the presence of the isolated stromal cells in the brain effects treatment of the disease, disorder or condition. Stromal cells which are isolated may be cultured in vitro, they may be genetically engineered to produce therapeutic compounds, and/or they may be pre-differentiated prior to administration into the central nervous system.

Abstract: Methods of treating a human patient having a disease, disorder or condition of the central nervous system are disclosed. The methods include obtaining a bone marrow sample from a human donor, isolating stromal cells from the bone marrow sample, and administering the isolated stromal cells to the central nervous system of the human patient, wherein the presence of the isolated stromal cells in the brain effects treatment of the disease, disorder or condition. Stromal cells which are isolated may be cultured in vitro, they may be genetically engineered to produce therapeutic compounds, and/or they may be pre-differentiated prior to administration into the central nervous system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of inducing differentiation of mammalian bone marrow stromal cells into neuronal cells by contacting marrow stromal cells with a neuronal differentiation-inducing compounds. Neuronal differentiation-inducing compounds of the invention include anti-oxidants such as, but not limited to, beta-mercaptoethanol, dimethylsulfoxide, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, ascorbic acid, dimethylfumarate, and n-acetylcysteine. Once induced to differentiate into neuronal cells, the cells can be used for cell therapy, gene therapy, or both, for treatment of diseases, disorders, or conditions of the central nervous system.

Abstract: Methods of treating patients who are suffering from a disease, disorder or condition characterized by a bone cartilage or lung defect are disclosed. The methods comprising the step of intravenous administration of stromal cells isolated from normal syngeneic individuals or intravenous administration of stromal cells isolated from the patient subsequent to correction of the genetic defect in the isolated cells. Implant devices comprising a container that has at least one membrane surface and stromal cells isolated from bone marrow that comprise a gene construct are disclosed. The gene construct in the stromal cells comprises a nucleotide sequence that encodes a beneficial protein operably linked to regulatory elements which function in stromal cells. Methods of treating individuals with diseases, disorders or conditions which can be treated with a beneficial protein, including diseases, disorders or conditions characterized by gene defects are disclosed.