Methods and Compositions for Somatic Cell Proliferation and Viability

Abstract

Methods and compositions for somatic cell proliferation as well as increasing viability of somatic cells are provided. The compositions include heparin binding protein isolated from a medium conditioned by growth of pluripotent stem cells, such as, human embryonic stem cells, human embryonic carcinoma cells. The methods include contacting a somatic cell with a heparin binding protein composition for a sufficient period of time to provide for enhanced proliferation and/or viability of the somatic cell as compared to the absence of the heparin binding protein composition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for enhancing proliferation of a somatic cell, the method comprising:
 contacting a somatic cell with heparin binding protein composition, wherein the composition comprises heparin binding protein isolated from a medium conditioned by growth of human embryonic stem or carcinoma cells,   wherein the contacting is for a period of time sufficient to provide for enhanced proliferation of the somatic cell compared to the absence of the heparin binding protein composition.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the somatic cell is cell of an aged subject. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the somatic cell is an injured cell. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the injury is caused by a disease. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the somatic cell is a diseased cell. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the somatic cell is a muscle cell. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the muscle cell is a skeletal muscle cell. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the skeletal muscle cell is a myoblast. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cell is an activated satellite cell. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the somatic cell is a neural cell. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the neural cell is a neural stem cell. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the neural cell is a neural progenitor cells. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the somatic cell is an adult human stem or an adult human progenitor cell. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heparin binding protein composition comprises a plurality of heparin binding proteins isolated from a medium conditioned by growth of human embryonic stem cells. 
     
     
         15 . Use of a heparin binding protein composition, wherein the composition comprises heparin binding protein isolated from a medium conditioned by growth of human embryonic stem cells, for enhancing proliferation of a somatic cell by contacting the somatic cell with the heparin binding protein composition for a period of time sufficient to provide for enhanced proliferation of the somatic cell as compared to the absence of the heparin binding protein composition. 
     
     
         16 . A method of increasing viability of a neuron, the method comprising:
 contacting the neuron with heparin binding protein composition, wherein the composition comprises heparin binding protein isolated from a medium conditioned by growth of human embryonic stem cells,   wherein the contacting is for a period of time sufficient to provide for increasing viability of the neuron as compared to the absence of the heparin binding protein composition.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the neuron is a cortical neuron. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the neuron is a glutamatergic neuron. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the neuron is exposed to a toxin. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the toxin is amyloid beta globulomer. 
     
     
         21 . Use of a heparin binding protein composition, wherein the composition comprises heparin binding protein isolated from a medium conditioned by growth of human embryonic stem cells, for increasing viability of a neuron by contacting the neuron with the heparin binding protein composition for a period of time sufficient to provide for increasing viability of the neuron as compared to the absence of the heparin binding protein composition.