Mesenchymal stem cells and uses therefor

Abstract

Methods of treating graft versus host disease, or inflammatory diseases in an animal, promoting would healing, repairing epithelial damage and promoting angiogenesis in an organ or tissue of an animal by administering to the animal mesenchymal stem cells in an effective amount.

1 . A method of treating graft-versus-host disease in a human, comprising:
 administering to the human a suspension comprising mesenchymal stem cells in an amount effective to treat the disease in the animal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least about 95% of the cells in the suspension express one or more cell surface markers selected from the group consisting of CD73, CD105, and CD166. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mesenchymal stem cells reduce or limit inflammation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the mesenchymal stem cells reduce or limit pro-inflammatory cytokine production. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the pro-inflammatory cytokine is selected from the group consisting of TNF-α and Interferon-γ. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mesenchymal stem cells increase IL-10, IL-4 or PEG 2  expression. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension is administered intravenously. 
     
     
         8 . A method of repairing epithelial damage in a human, comprising:
 administering to the animal a suspension comprising mesenchymal stem cells in an amount effective to repair epithelial damage in the animal.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the epithelial damage is a result of graft-versus-host disease. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the epithelial damage is a result of an autoimmune disease. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least about 95% of the cells in the suspension express one or more cell surface markers selected from the group consisting of CD73, CD105, and CD166. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the mesenchymal stem cells repair epithelial damage by reducing or limiting inflammation in the epithelium. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the mesenchymal stem cells repair epithelial damage by reducing or limiting pro-inflammatory cytokine production. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the pro-inflammatory cytokine is selected from the group consisting of TNF-α and Interferon-γ. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the mesenchymal stem cells increase IL-10, IL-4 or PEG 2  expression. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the suspension is administered intravenously. 
     
     
         17 . A method of treating an inflammatory response in a human, comprising:
 administering to the human a suspension comprising mesenchymal stem cells in an amount effective to treat the inflammatory response in the human.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said inflammatory response is associated with psoriasis. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein at least about 95% of the cells in the suspension express one or more cell surface markers selected from the group consisting of CD73, CD105, and CD166. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the mesenchymal stem cells reduce or limit pro-inflammatory cytokine production. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the pro-inflammatory cytokine is selected from the group consisting of TNF-α and Interferon-γ. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the mesenchymal stem cells increase IL-10, IL-4 or PEG 2  expression. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the suspension is administered intravenously.