Cell fusion promoter and utilization of the same

Abstract

A regeneration promoter for regenerating tissue with the use of somatic stem cells is provided. Also provided are a cell fusion promoter comprising ATP or its metabolite which is safely usable in vivo, a method of producing fused cells in the presence of ATP or its metabolite and a related pharmaceutical composition for regenerating or improving the function of a tissue or an organ in a subject suffering from dysfunction or hypofunction due to injury or denaturation.

1 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . 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 regeneration 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 to regenerate or improve a cardiac cell, tissue or organ,   wherein said stem cell and said ATP are administered at a site where dysfunction or hypofunction occurs due to cardiac damage or degeneration.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the stem cell is a somatic stem cell. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the somatic stem cell is a bone marrow cell. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the somatic cell is a myocardial cell. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the stem cell is an autologous cell. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said cardiac damage or degeneration is ischemic heart disease due to heart failure. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the heart failure is attributable to heart infarction. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the concentration of ATP is between 1 mM-3 mM. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the ATP is administered in a pharmaceutical composition comprising said ATP and a pharmaceutical carrier. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the method further comprises administering a somatic cell.