Uses of IL-12 and the IL-12 receptor positive cell in tissue repair and regeneration
View Patent ↗The present application relates to stem cells isolated from various sources within the body of a patient or of a healthy donor and identified by the presence of the interleukin 12 (IL-12) receptor. The present application also provides methods for making and for using the stem cells.
1. An isolated, substantially homogenous population of cells that: (a) expresses the IL-12 receptor and the cell marker CD34, and (b) has been exposed to exogenous IL-12 ligand.
2. The cell population of claim 1 , wherein the cell population is of human origin.
3. The cell population of claim 1 , wherein the cells have been isolated before being exposed to exogenous IL-12 ligand.
4. The cell population of claim 1 , wherein the cells have been exposed to exogenouse IL-12 ligand while in a subject, and then isolated.
5. The cell population of claim 1 , wherein the cell population further expresses a marker selected from the group consisting of Sca-1, CDCP1, c-kit, KDR, Flt3, SLAM, CD133, IFNGR, and any combination thereof.
6. The cell population of claim 1 , wherein the stem cell does not express at least one or more major histocompatibility (MHC) class I and class II molecule.
7. The cell population of claim 1 , wherein the cell population undergoes expansion in the presence of IL-12 heterodimer ligand.
8. The cell population of claim 1 , wherein the cell comprises long-term repopulating (LTR) hematopoietic stem cells.
9. The cell population of claim 1 , wherein the cell population is radioresistant.
10. The cell population of claim 1 , wherein the source of the cell population is bone marrow, peripheral blood, the spleen, blood from an umbilical cord, or any combination thereof.
11. The stem cell of claim 1 , wherein the IL-12 receptor comprises the beta 2 subunit of the IL-12 receptor.
12. A method for generating a cellular transplant for repair of cells and tissue, comprising:
(a) isolating a cell population that expresses the IL-12 receptor and CD34; and
(b) exposing the cell population to exogenous IL-12.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the population of cells expressing the IL-12 receptor is isolated using an antibody that binds the beta 2 subunit of the IL-12 receptor.