Treatment of retinitis pigmentosa with human umbilical cord cells
View Patent ↗Cells derived from postpartum umbilicus and placenta are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions, devices and methods for the regeneration or repair of ocular tissue using the postpartum-derived cells are also disclosed.
1. A method of treating a patient having retinitis pigmentosa, the method comprising administering cells isolated from a human postpartum umbilical cord to the interior of the patient's eye, in an amount effective to treat the retinitis pigmentosa, wherein the cells are capable of self-renewal and expansion in culture, have the potential to differentiate into cells of at least a neural phenotype, and have the following characteristics:
a) potential for at least 40 doublings in culture;
b) attachment and expansion on a coated or uncoated tissue culture vessel, wherein the coated tissue culture vessel comprises a coating of gelatin, laminin, collagen, polyornithine, vitronectin, or fibronectin;
c) production of vimentin and alpha-smooth muscle actin;
d) production of CD10, CD13, CD44, CD73, HLA-A,B,C, and CD90;
e) increased expression of endogenous genes encoding interleukin 8 and reticulon 1 relative to endogenous expression of interleukin 8 and reticulon 1 in a human cell that is a fibroblast, a mesenchymal stem cell, or an ileac crest bone marrow cell; and
f) lack of production of CD31, CD34, CD45, CD117, and CD141.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cells are administered with at least one other agent.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one other agent is administered simultaneously with, or before, or after, the cells.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cells are administered through a cannula or from a device inserted in the patient's eye.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cells are administered by insertion of a matrix or scaffold containing the cells.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cells are expanded in culture prior to administering to the interior of the patient's eye.