Connective tissue repair

Abstract

The invention concerns a homogenous population of human stem cells isolated from the full depth of human cartilage tissue and/or isolated from aged human cartilage; and uses thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A homogenous population of human stem cells isolated from an aged human cartilage. 
     
     
         2 . The stem cell according to  claim 1  wherein said cell is isolated from a full depth of cartilage tissue. 
     
     
         3 . The stem cell according to  claim 1  wherein said stem cell is isolated from either a surface or a mid-zone of cartilage tissue, or both. 
     
     
         4 . A population of human connective tissue cells derived from the stem cell according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         5 . A homogenous population of human stem cells which are characterised by any one or more of the following traits:
 (1) isolation from a full depth of human articular cartilage;   (2) isolation by high affinity adhesion to fibronectin or a fragment containing an RGD sequence;   (3) a population doubling in excess of 52;   (4) an ability to differentiate into any connective tissue type;   (5) expression of any one or more of the following stem cell markers: STRO1, MSX1 or notch 1;   (6) isolation from an human aged cartilage.   
     
     
         6 . A population of human connective tissue cells derived from the stem cell according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . A method for tissue repair, comprising administering a stem cell according to  claim 1  to an individual in need thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A method for tissue repair, comprising administering a stem cell according to  claim 5  to an individual in need thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A method for tissue repair, comprising administering a population of human connective tissue cells according to  claim 4  to an individual in need thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A method for tissue repair, comprising administering a population of human connective tissue cells according to  claim 6  to an individual in need thereof. 
     
     
         11 . An implant for use in tissue repair, comprising a stem cell according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . An implant for use in tissue repair, comprising a stem cell according to  claim 5 . 
     
     
         13 . A homogenous population of human stem cells isolated from an aged human cartilage, deposited under National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) Accession No. A P-08-016.