Identification of a pluripotent pre-mesenchymal, pre-hematopoietic progenitor cell

Abstract

The present invention provides a molecular marker for the identification of pluripotent pre-mesenchymal, pre-hematopoietic stem cells. The invention further provides primitive progenitor cells identified by the molecular marker. Such cells have the potential to differentiate into both mesenchymal and hematopoietic phenotypes, as determined by a proliferative response to inductive growth factors and cytokines, and by their morphologic and cytochemical features.

1 .- 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 16 , wherein the growth factor is selected from the group consisting of epidermal growth factors (EGFs), transforming growth factors (TGFs), platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs), fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), hepatocyte growth factors (HGFs), and hematopoietic growth factors (HeGFs). 
     
     
         9 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 8 , wherein the growth factor is TGFβ1. 
     
     
         10 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 16 , wherein the collagen-binding domain is a collagen binding domain of von Willebrand factor. 
     
     
         11 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 10 , wherein the collagen-binding domain of von Willebrand factor comprises the decapeptide WREPSFMALS (SEQ IN NO:1). 
     
     
         12 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 16 , wherein the pre-mesenchymal, pre-hematopoietic progenitor stem cell is derived from the bone marrow of a mammal. 
     
     
         13 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 12 , wherein the mammal is selected form the group consisting of primate, swine, porcine, feline, canine, equine, murine, cervine, caprine, lupine, leporidine, and bovine. 
     
     
         14 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 13 , wherein the primate is human. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a pre-mesenchymal, pre-hematopoietic progenitor stem cell, wherein the pre-mesenchymal, pre-hematopoietic progenitor stem cell comprises:
 an Osf2 gene expression product;   a fusion polypeptide, wherein the fusion polypeptide comprises a collagen-binding domain   and a growth factor or active fragment thereof; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.   
     
     
         17 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 16  in a controlled-release formulation. 
     
     
         18 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 17  in a liposomal form. 
     
     
         19 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 16  in a lyophilized form. 
     
     
         20 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 16  in a unit-dosage form. 
     
     
         21 .- 52 . (canceled)