Abstract: A method of preserving cone cells in the eye of a mammal suffering from a retinal degenerative disease comprises isolating from the bone marrow of the mammal a lineage negative hematopoietic stem cell population that includes endothelial progenitor cells, transfecting cells from the stem cell population with a gene that operably encodes an antiangiogenic fragment of human tryptophanyl tRNA synthetase (TrpRS), and subsequently intravitreally injecting the transfected cells into the eye of the mammal in an amount sufficient to inhibit the degeneration of cone cells in the retina of the eye. The treatment may be enhanced by stimulating proliferation of activated astrocytes in the retina using a laser.

Abstract: Isolated, mammalian, adult bone marrow-derived, lineage negative hematopoietic stem cell populations (Lin? HSCs) contain endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) capable of rescuing retinal blood vessels and neuronal networks in the eye. Preferably at least about 20% of the cells in the isolated Lin? HSCs express the cell surface antigen CD31. The isolated Lin? HSC populations are useful for treatment of ocular vascular diseases. In a preferred embodiment, the Lin? HSCs are isolated by extracting bone marrow from an adult mammal; separating a plurality of monocytes from the bone marrow; labeling the monocytes with biotin-conjugated lineage panel antibodies to one or more lineage surface antigens; removing of monocytes that are positive for the lineage surface antigens from the plurality of monocytes, and recovering a Lin? HSC population containing EPCs.

Abstract: Isolated, mammalian, adult bone marrow-derived, lineage negative hematopoietic stem cell populations (Lin? HSCs) contain endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) capable of rescuing retinal blood vessels and neuronal networks in the eye. Preferably at least about 20% of the cells in the isolated Lin? HSCs express the cell surface antigen CD31. The isolated Lin? HSC populations are useful for treatment of ocular vascular diseases and to ameliorate cone cell degeneration in the retina. In a preferred embodiment, the Lin? HSCs are isolated by extracting bone marrow from an adult mammal; separating a plurality of monocytes from the bone marrow; labeling the monocytes with biotin-conjugated lineage panel antibodies to one or more lineage surface antigens; removing of monocytes that are positive for the lineage surface antigens from the plurality of monocytes, and recovering a Lin? HSC population containing EPCs. The isolated Lin? HSCs also can be transfected with therapeutically useful genes.

Abstract: Isolated, mammalian, adult bone marrow-derived, lineage negative hematopoietic stem cell populations (Lin? HSCs) contain endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) capable of rescuing retinal blood vessels and neuronal networks in the eye. Preferably at least about 20% of the cells in the isolated Lin? HSCs express the cell surface antigen CD31 and not more than about 1 percent of the cells express Tie-2. The isolated Lin? HSC populations are useful for treatment of ocular vascular diseases.

Abstract: Isolated, mammalian, bone marrow-derived, lineage negative hematopoietic stem cell populations (Lin? HSC) contain endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) capable of forming retinal blood vessels. At least about 50% of the cells in the isolated Lin? HSC population include cell surface markers for CD31 and c-kit. Up to about 8% of the cells can include the Sca-1 cell marker, and up to about 4% of the cells can include the Flk-1/KDR marker. The isolated Lin? HSC populations of the present invention are useful for treatment of ocular vascular diseases. The isolated Lin? HSC populations that have been transfected with therapeutically useful genes are also provided, which are useful for delivering genes to the eye for cell-based gene therapy.

Abstract: Isolated, mammalian, adult bone marrow-derived, lineage negative hematopoietic stem cell populations (Lin? HSCs) contain endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) capable of rescuing retinal blood vessels and neuronal networks in the eye. Preferably at least about 20% of the cells in the isolated Lini HSCs express the cell surface antigen CD31. The isolated Lin? HSC populations are useful for treatment of ocular vascular diseases and to ameliorate cone cell degeneration in the retina. In a preferred embodiment, the Lin? HSCs are isolated by extracting bone marrow from an adult mammal; separating a plurality of monocytes from the bone marrow; labeling the monocytes with biotin-conjugated lineage panel antibodies to one or more lineage surface antigens; removing of monocytes that are positive for the lineage surface antigens from the plurality of monocytes, and recovering a Lin? HSC population containing EPCs. The isolated Lin? HSCs also can be transfected with therapeutically useful genes.

Abstract: Isolated, mammalian, adult bone marrow-derived, lineage negative hematopoietic stem cell populations (Lin? HSCs) contain endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) capable of rescuing retinal blood vessels and neuronal networks in the eye. Preferably at least about 20% of the cells in the isolated Lin? HSCs express the cell surface antigen CD31. The isolated Lin? HSC populations are useful for treatment of ocular vascular diseases. In a preferred embodiment, the Lin? HSCs are isolated by extracting bone marrow from an adult mammal; separating a plurality of monocytes from the bone marrow; labeling the monocytes with biotin-conjugated lineage panel antibodies to one or more lineage surface antigens; removing of monocytes that are positive for the lineage surface antigens from the plurality of monocytes, and recovering a Lin? HSC population containing EPCs.

Abstract: Isolated, mammalian, bone marrow-derived, lineage negative hematopoietic stem cell populations (Lin− HSC) contain endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) capable of forming retinal blood vessels. At least about 50% of the cells in the isolated Lin− HSC population include cell surface markers for CD31 and c-kit. Up to about 8% of the cells can include the Sca-1 cell marker, and up to about 4% of the cells can include the Flk-1/KDR marker. The isolated Lin− HSC populations of the present invention are useful for treatment of ocular vascular diseases. The isolated Lin− HSC populations that have been transfected with therapeutically useful genes are also provided, which are useful for delivering genes to the eye for cell-based gene therapy.