Abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells are pluripotent cells capable of differentiating into myocardial and vascular endothelial cells. The present invention demonstrates that the mesenchymal stem cell sheet have therapeutic potential for a severely damaged heart due to its pluripotency and in situ self-renewal capability. Mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue were cultured to prepare a mesenchymal stem cell sheet. Four weeks after induction of myocardial infarction in rats, the mesenchymal stem cell sheet was transplanted to the heart. The mesenchymal stem cell sheet were readily engrafted to the surface of the scarred myocardium, grew gradually in situ, and formed a thick layer (approximately 600 ?m) in 4 weeks. The grown transplanted mesenchymal tissue contained newly formed blood vessels, myocardial cells, and undifferentiated mesenchymal cells.

Abstract: [Problems to be Solved] An objective of the present invention is to provide methods for regenerating or repairing damaged tissues using adrenomedullin. Another objective is to provide pharmaceutical agents that comprise adrenomedullin as an active ingredient for regenerating or repairing damaged tissues. [Means for Solving the Problems] To solve the above problems, the present inventors administered adrenomedullin (hereinafter indicated as AM) or physiological saline to C57BL/6 mice, and counted the numbers of mononuclear cells and Sca-1-positive cells in the blood. The result showed that AM increased the numbers of mononuclear cells and stem cell antigen-1-positive cells in the blood.

Abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells are pluripotent cells capable of differentiating into myocardial and vascular endothelial cells. The present invention demonstrates that the mesenchymal stem cell sheet have therapeutic potential for a severely damaged heart due to its pluripotency and in situ self-renewal capability. Mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue were cultured to prepare a mesenchymal stem cell sheet. Four weeks after induction of myocardial infarction in rats, the mesenchymal stem cell sheet was transplanted to the heart. The mesenchymal stem cell sheet were readily engrafted to the surface of the scarred myocardium, grew gradually in situ, and formed a thick layer (approximately 600 ?m) in 4 weeks. The grown transplanted mesenchymal tissue contained newly formed blood vessels, myocardial cells, and undifferentiated mesenchymal cells.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide methods for producing progenitor cells which show a high proliferation ability ex vivo and promote neovascularization or myocardium regeneration, by culturing pluripotent cells in a medium containing adrenomedullin (AM) and/or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Moreover, another objective of the present invention is to provide the progenitor cells and uses thereof. In order to solve the above problems, the inventors of the present application have successfully developed a novel culture technique for producing progenitor cells from adipose tissues more efficiently compared to the conventional techniques, by using adrenomedullin (AM) and/or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).