Human Bone-Forming Cells in the Treatment of Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases

1 - 10 . (canceled)

11 . A method for treating an inflammatory component of inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) in a subject, comprising administering by intra-articular injection of isolated bone-forming cells to a subject suffering from inflammation, wherein the bone-forming cells:

i. display anti-inflammatory properties;

ii. comprise expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), or ALP of the bone-liver-kidney type and/or osteocalcin (OCN);

iii. exhibit capability to mineralize the external surroundings, or synthesize calcium-containing extracellular matrix; and

iv. are not differentiated towards cells of adipocytic lineage or chondrocytic lineage;

v. are not genetically modified;

vi. and wherein the IRD is selected from osteoarthritis (OA), psoriatic arthropathy, gout, pseudogout and arthritis of various origins comprising, enteropathic arthritis, reactive arthritis and Reiter syndrome, pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Still disease, Behcet disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, septic arthritis and spondyloarthropathies comprising ankylosing spondylitis, enteropathic spondylitis and undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy, wherein said osteoarthritis (OA), psoriatic arthropathy, gout, pseudogout and arthritis of various origins comprising enteropathic arthritis, reactive arthritis and Reiter syndrome, pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Still disease, Behcet disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, septic arthritis and spondyloarthropathies comprising ankylosing spondylitis, enteropathic spondylitis and undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy, comprises an inflammatory component.

12 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein the bone-forming cells a) are capable of undergoing osteogenic differentiation, or b) are committed towards osteogenic differentiation, or c) have at least partly progressed along osteogenic differentiation.

13 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein the bone-forming cells are of human origin and are autologously or allogeneicly administered to humans.

14 . A method according to claim 12 , wherein the bone-forming cells are of human origin and are autologously or allogeneicly administered to humans.

15 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein the IRD is other than osteoarthritis (OA).

16 . A method according to claim 12 , wherein the IRD is other than osteoarthritis (OA).

17 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein the IRD comprises both an inflammation and bone lesion(s).

18 . A method according to claim 12 , wherein the IRD comprises both an inflammation and bone lesion(s).

19 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein the IRD comprises an inflammation and does not comprise bone lesion(s).

20 . A method according to claim 12 , wherein the IRD comprises an inflammation and does not comprise bone lesion(s).

21 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising bone-forming cells and an agent selected from the group consisting of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD), glucocorticoids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and analgesics, for simultaneous, sequential or separate use in treating the inflammation of IRD.

22 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein the bone-forming cells are administered simultaneously, sequentially or separately with an agent selected from the group consisting of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD), glucocorticoids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and analgesics.

23 . A method according to claim 12 , wherein the bone-forming cells are administered simultaneously, sequentially or separately with an agent selected from the group consisting of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD), glucocorticoids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and analgesics.