Cell fusion promoter and utilization of the same

Abstract

It is intended to provide a regeneration promoter for regenerating a tissue with the use of somatic stem cells. It is also intended to provide a cell fusion promoter safely usable in vivo. Namely, it is intended to provide a cell fusion promoter comprising ATP or its metabolite. A cell fusion promoter comprising ATP or its metabolite and a method of producing fused cells in the presence of ATP or its metabolite. A medicinal composition for regenerating or improving the function of a tissue or an organ, which suffers from dysfunction or hypofunction due to injury or denaturation, by using stem cells. This composition comprises ATP or its metabolite and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

1 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A method of producing a fused cell for transplanting into a subject in need of regeneration treatment, the method comprising:
 administering to a stem cell and a somatic cell ex vivo ATP in an amount and at a concentration sufficient to cause the fusion of the stem cell and the somatic cell, thereby producing a fused cell for transplanting into a subject in need of regeneration treatment.   
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the stem cell is a somatic stem cell. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 42 , wherein the somatic stem cell is a bone marrow cell. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the somatic cell is a myocardial cell. 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the stem cell is administered to the subject at a site where dysfunction or hypofunction occurs due to cardiac damage or degeneration to regenerate or improve a cardiac cell, tissue or organ. 
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein the stem cell is an autologous cell. 
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein said cardiac damage or degeneration is ischemic heart disease due to heart failure. 
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 47 , wherein the heart failure is attributable to heart infarction. 
     
     
         49 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the concentration of ATP is between 1 mM-3 mM. 
     
     
         50 . A method of producing a fused cell in a subject in need of regeneration treatment, the method comprising:
 administering to a subject in need of such treatment a stem cell and ATP in an amount and at a concentration sufficient to cause the fusion of the stem cell and a somatic cell in the subject.   
     
     
         51 . The method according to  claim 50 , wherein the stem cell is a somatic stem cell. 
     
     
         52 . The method according to  claim 51 , wherein the somatic stem cell is a bone marrow cell. 
     
     
         53 . The method according to any one of  claim 50 , wherein the somatic cell is a myocardial cell. 
     
     
         54 . The method according to  claim 50 , wherein the stem cell is administered to the subject at a site where dysfunction or hypofunction occurs due to cardiac damage or degeneration to regenerate or improve a cardiac cell, tissue or organ. 
     
     
         55 . The method according to  claim 54 , wherein the stem cell is an autologous cell. 
     
     
         56 . The method according to  claim 55 , wherein said cardiac damage or degeneration is ischemic heart disease due to heart failure. 
     
     
         57 . The method according to  claim 56 , wherein the heart failure is attributable to heart infarction. 
     
     
         58 . The method according to  claim 50 , wherein the concentration of ATP is between 1 mM-3 mM. 
     
     
         59 . The method according to  claim 50 , wherein the ATP is administered in a pharmaceutical composition comprising said ATP and a pharmaceutical carrier. 
     
     
         60 . The method according to  claim 50 , wherein the method further comprises administering a somatic cell. 
     
     
         61 . A method of treatment for functional regeneration or improvement of a cell, tissue or organ in a subject, the method comprising:
 transplanting a stem cell into the subject at a site where dysfunction or hypofunction occurs due to cardiac damage or degeneration; and   administering to the subject ATP in an amount and at a concentration sufficient to cause the fusion of the stem cell and a somatic cell, wherein the ATP is administered at the time of or after the transplant, thereby regenerating or improving the cell, tissue or organ in the subject.   
     
     
         62 . The method according to  claim 61 , wherein the stem cell is a somatic stem cell. 
     
     
         63 . The method according to  claim 62 , wherein the somatic stem cell is a bone marrow cell. 
     
     
         64 . The method according to  claim 62 , wherein the somatic cell is a myocardial cell. 
     
     
         65 . The method according to  claim 61 , wherein the concentration of ATP is between 1 mM-3 mM. 
     
     
         66 . The method according to  claim 61 , wherein the ATP is administered in a pharmaceutical composition comprising said ATP and a pharmaceutical carrier. 
     
     
         67 . A method of treatment for functional regeneration or improvement of a cell, tissue or organ in a subject, the method comprising:
 fusing a pre-transplanted stem cell with a myocardial cell ex vivo in the presence of ATP; and   transplanting the stem cell into the subject at a site where dysfunction or hypofunction occurs due to cardiac damage or degeneration, thereby regenerating or improving the cell, tissue or organ in the subject.   
     
     
         68 . The method according to  claim 67 , wherein the stem cell is a somatic stem cell. 
     
     
         69 . The method according to  claim 68 , wherein the somatic stem cell is a bone marrow cell. 
     
     
         70 . The method according to  claim 67 , wherein the stem cell is an autologous cell. 
     
     
         71 . The method according to  claim 67 , wherein the concentration of ATP is between 1 mM-3 mM. 
     
     
         72 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a stem cell, ATP in an amount and at a concentration sufficient to cause the fusion of the stem cell and a somatic cell, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         73 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 72 , wherein the concentration of ATP is between 1 mM-3 mM. 
     
     
         74 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 72 , the pharmaceutical composition further comprising a somatic cell to the subject.