COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR RECRUITING STEM CELLS
Described herein are compositions and methods of using modified placental tissue grafts composed of at least one membrane, capable of recruiting stem cells in vivo and in vitro.
1 . A composition comprising modified placental tissue, wherein said placental tissue is present in an amount, such that, when placed proximate to a body part in viva, the placental tissue elicits an effective amount of stem cell recruiting factors so as to promote endogenous stem cell recruitment to said body part, and wherein the amount of said placental tissue is the same as or more than that of a 4 mm diameter disk comprising 4 mg per square centimeter of the placental tissue.
2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the body part is selected from the group consisting of bone, cartilage, tendon, retina, peripheral nerve, peripheral nerve sheath, small intestine, large intestine, stomach, skeletal muscle, heart, liver, lung, and kidney.
3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the stem cells recruited by the composition are pluripotent stem cells.
4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the placental tissue has a mass sufficient to recruit stem cells to a body part to be treated.
5 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the body part is diseased or injured.
6 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the placental tissue comprises amnion.
7 . The composition of claim 6 , wherein the amnion is selected from the group consisting of decellularized amnion, deepithelialized amnion retaining a fibroblast layer and amnion containing both epithelial cells and a fibroblast layer.