Uses and isolation of very small embryonic-like (vsel) stem cells

Abstract

The presently disclosed subject matter provides populations of stem cells that are purified from bone marrow, peripheral blood, and/or other sources. Also provided are methods of using the stem cells for treating tissue and/or organ damage in a subject.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A cellular therapy product comprising an autologous mixture of CD34 + /lin − /CD45 −  or Sca-1 + /lin − /CD45 −  very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) and non-VSELs, wherein the non-VSELs comprise progenitor cells and optionally functional cells. 
     
     
         25 . The cellular therapy product of  claim 24  comprising from about 10% to about 90% peripheral blood VSELs and from about 10% to about 90% non-VSELs. 
     
     
         26 . The cellular therapy product of  claim 24  comprising, from about 10% to about 80% peripheral blood VSELs and from about 20% to about 90% non-VSELs. 
     
     
         27 . The cellular therapy product of  claim 24  comprising from about 10% to about 60% peripheral blood VSELs and from about 40% to about 90% non-VSELs. 
     
     
         28 . The cellular therapy product of  claim 24 , wherein the non-VSELs are selected from the group consisting of hematopoietic progenitor cells, neural progenitor cells glial progenitor cells, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, skin progenitor cells, hepatic progenitor cells, muscle progenitor cells, bone progenitor cells, mesenchymal stem or progenitor cells, pancreatic progenitor cells, progenitor chondrocytes, stromal progenitor, cells, cultured expanded stem or progenitor cells, cultured differentiated stem or progenitor cells, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The cellular therapy product of  claim 24 , wherein the functional cells are selected from the group consisting of terminally differentiated hematopoietic cells, terminally differentiated neural cells, terminally differentiated glial cells, terminally differentiated oligodendrocyte, terminally differentiated skin cells, terminally differentiated hepatic cells, terminally differentiated muscle cells, terminally differentiated bone cells, terminally differentiated adipocytes, terminally differentiated pancreatic cells, chondrocytes, stromal cells, cultured differentiated stem or progenitor cells, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         30 . A method of enhancing the engraftment of stem cells comprising administering to a subject an autologous mixture of CD34 + /lin − /CD45 −  or Sca-1 + /lin + /CD45 −  very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs), progenitor cells, and optionally functional cells. 
     
     
         31 . A cellular therapy product comprising at least 10 4  CD34 + /lin − /CD45 +  or Sca-1 + /lin − /CD45 −  very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs). 
     
     
         32 . The cellular therapy product of  claim 31  comprising at least 10 5  CD34 + /lin − /CD45 +  or Sca-1 + /lin − /CD45 +  VSELs. 
     
     
         33 . The cellular therapy product of  claim 31  comprising at least 10 6  CD34 + /lin − /CD45 +  or Sca-1 + /lin − /CD45 +  VSELs. 
     
     
         34 . A Method of enhancing the engraftment of stem cells comprising administering to a subject the cellular therapy product of any one of  claims 31  to  33 . 
     
     
         35 - 38 . (canceled)