Multipotent stem cells and uses thereof

Abstract

The invention provides a quiescent stem cell having the capacity to differentiate into ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm, and which does not express cell surface markers including MHC class I, MHC class II, CD44, CD45, CD13, CD34, CD49c, CD73, CD105, CD90, CD66A, CD66E, CXCR4, CD133 or an SSEA. The invention further provides a proliferative stem cell, which expresses genes including Oct-4, Nanog, Sox2, GDF3, P16INK4, BMI, Notch, HDAC4, TERT, Rex-1, TWIST, KLF-4 and Stella but does not express cell surface markers including MHC class I, MHC class II, CD44, CD45, CD13, CF34, CF49c, CD73, CD105, CD90, CD66A, CD66E, CXCR4, CD133 or an SSEA. The cells of the invention can be isolated from adult mammals, have embryonic cell characteristics, and can form embryoid bodies. Methods for obtaining the stem cells, as well as methods of treating diseases and differentiated stem cells, are also provided.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A master cell bank comprising a plurality of cryopreserved individually packaged populations of isolated adult stem cells, each population including at least 1×10 2  or more adult stem cells, wherein said adult stem cells are capable of proliferating and differentiating into at least two of ectoderm, mesoderm, or endoderm, express at least one of Oct-4, KLF-4, Nanog, Sox-2, Rex-1, GDF-3, and Stella and do not detectably express MHC Class I, CD90, CD34, CD44, CD45, or CD49. 
     
     
         20 . A method of forming an adipocyte, the method comprising culturing an adult stem cell under adipocyte-differentiating conditions, wherein said adult stem cell is capable of proliferating and differentiating into at least two of ectoderm, mesoderm, or endoderm, expresses at least one of Oct-4, KLF-4, Nanog, Sox-2, Rex-1, GDF-3, and Stella and does not detectably express MHC Class I, CD90, CD34, CD44, CD45, or CD49. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said adipocyte-differentiating conditions include culturing with at least one of dexamethasone, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), insulin, and indomethacin. 
     
     
         22 .- 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A process for expanding a population of adult stem cells comprising passaging the population at least three, at least five, at least ten or at least forty times, wherein said population of adult stem cells are capable of proliferating and differentiating into at least two of ectoderm, mesoderm, or endoderm, express at least one of Oct-4, KLF-4, Nanog, Sox-2, Rex-1, GDF-3, and Stella and do not detectably express MHC Class I, CD90, CD34, CD44, CD45, or CD49. 
     
     
         44 .- 45 . (canceled)