Small mobile stem cells (sms) and uses thereof

Abstract

The presently disclosed subject matter relates, in general, to the identification, isolation, and use of a population of stem cells isolated from umbilical cord blood, peripheral blood, and/or other sources that are referred to herein as Small Mobile Stem cells (short: SMS). More particularly, the presently disclosed subject matter relates to isolating said SMS stem cells and employing the same, optionally after in vitro manipulation, to treat tissue and/or organ damage in a subject in need thereof.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of providing an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein to a subject, comprising:
 administering an ECM protein isolated from a culture of small mobile stem (SMS) cells to a subject.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the subject has damaged tissue. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the damaged tissue is a burn. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the damaged tissue is a result of an age-related condition. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein providing the ECM protein to the subject induces tissue repair, generates of new cells, or inhibits cell death. 
     
     
         7 . A method of isolating small mobile stem (SMS) cells from peripheral blood, comprising:
 placing a peripheral blood sample in a container; and   isolating an adherent cell population from the container, wherein the adherent cells are SMS cells.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising culturing the adherent cell population for at least 27 passages. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the isolated SMS cells are from 4.5 to 5.5 μm in size. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the isolated SMS cells exhibit high mobility of 0.5 to 1.5 μm/second. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the isolated SMS cells are expressive of an extracellular matrix protein. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the container is plastic. 
     
     
         13 . A method of differentiating small mobile stem (SMS) cells, comprising:
 culturing an isolated population of SMS cells in an inductive medium.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the inductive medium is an osteogenic, adipogenic, or neurogenic differentiation medium. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the inductive medium comprises ascorbic acid-2-phsophate, β-glycerophosphate, dexamethasone, insulin, isobutylmethylxanthine, indomethacin, butyrate hydroxyanisole, or β-mercaptoethanol, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the SMS cells are differentiated into osteocytes, adipocytes, or neural cells.