Regeneration and repair of neural tissue using postpartum-derived cells

1. A method of treating a patient having optic nerve damage, the method comprising administering to the patient one or more cells in an amount effective to treat the optic nerve damage, wherein said cells are isolated from human umbilical cord tissue substantially free of blood, or are generated from cultures of said isolated cells, wherein said cells are capable of self-renewal and expansion in culture and have the potential to differentiate into cells of at least a neural phenotype; wherein said cells require L-valine for growth and can grow in at least about 5% oxygen; wherein said cells exhibit the ability to undergo at least about 40 doublings in culture without a change in karyotype; and wherein said cells lack production of CD 117.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said cells produce each of CD10, CD13, CD44, CD73, CD90, PDGFr-alpha, PD-L2 and HLA-A, B, C.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said cells lack the production of CD31, CD34, CD45, CD80, CD86, CD141, CD178, B7-H2, HLA-G and HLA-DR, DP, DQ.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said cells secrete each of the factors MCP-1, IL-6, IL-8, GCP-2, HGF, KGF, FGF, HB-EGF, BDNF, TPO and TIMP1.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said cells do not secrete the factors SDF-1 alpha, TGF-beta2, ANG2, PDGFbb and VEGF.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said cells exhibit:

a) increased expression, relative to a human cell that is a fibroblast, a mesenchymal stem cell, or an iliac crest bone marrow cell, of a gene encoding: interleukin 8; reticulon 1; chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (melanoma growth stimulating activity, alpha); chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 6 (granulocyte chemotactic protein 2); chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 3; and tumor necrosis factor, alpha-induced protein 3; and

b) reduced expression, relative to a human cell that is a fibroblast, a mesenchymal stem cell, or an iliac crest bone marrow cell, of a gene encoding: short stature homeobox 2; heat shock 27 kDa protein 2; chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 (stromal cell-derived factor 1); elastin; Homo sapiens mRNA; cDNA DKFZp586M2022 (from clone DKFZp586M2022); mesenchyme homeo box 2 (growth arrest-specific homeo box); sine oculis homeobox homolog 1 ( Drosophila ); crystallin, alpha B; disheveled associated activator of morphogenesis 2; DKFZP586B2420 protein; similar to neuralin 1; tetranectin (plasminogen binding protein); src homology three (SH3) and cysteine rich domain; cholesterol 25-hydroxylase; runt-related transcription factor 3; interleukin 11 receptor, alpha; procollagen C-endopeptidase enhancer; frizzled homolog 7 ( Drosophila ); hypothetical gene BC008967; collagen, type VIII, alpha 1; tenascin C (hexabrachion); iroquois homeobox protein 5; hephaestin; integrin, beta 8; synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2; neuroblastoma, suppression of tumorigenicity 1; insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2, 36 kpa; Homo sapiens cDNA F1112280 fis, clone MAMMA1001744; cytokine receptor-like factor 1; potassium intermediate/small conductance calcium-activated channel, subfamily N, member 4; integrin, beta 7; transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ); sine oculis homeobox homolog 2 ( Drosophila ); KIAA1034 protein; vesicle-associated membrane protein 5 (myobrevin); EGF-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 1; early growth response 3; distal-less homeo box 5; hypothetical protein F1120373; aldo-keto reductase family 1, member C3 (3-alpha hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, type II); biglycan; transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ); fibronectin 1; proenkephalin; integrin, beta-like 1 (with EGF-like repeat domains); Homo sapiens mRNA full length insert cDNA clone EUROIMAGE 1968422; EphA3; KIAA0367 protein; natriuretic peptide receptor C/guanylate cyclase C (atrionatriuretic peptide receptor C); hypothetical protein F1114054 ; Homo sapiens mRNA, cDNA DKFZp564B222 (from clone DKFZp564B222); BCL2/adenovirus E1B 19 kDa interacting protein 3-like; AE binding protein 1; cytochrome coxidase subunit VIIa polypeptide 1 (muscle); similar to neuralin 1; B cell translocation gene 1; hypothetical protein FLJ23191; and DKFZp586L151.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cells are induced in vitro to differentiate into a neural lineage cells prior to administration.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cells are genetically engineered to produce a gene product that promotes treatment of the optic nerve damage.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cells are administered by injection or infusion.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cells are administered by implantation of a matrix or scaffold containing the cells.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said cells produce each of CD10, CD13, CD44, CD73, CD90, PDGFr-alpha, PD-L2 and HLA-A, B, C and wherein said cells lack the production of CD31, CD34, CD45, CD80, CD86, CD141, CD178, B7-H2, HLA-G and HLA-DR, DP, DQ.