USES OF GROWTH AND DIFFERENTIATION FACTOR 8 (GDF-8)

摘要

The present invention relates to uses of growth and differentiation factor 8 (GDF-8) in vitro or in vivo for reducing the immunogenicity or risk of rejection of cells such as in particular mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), tissues or materials. The present invention further relates to methods for differentiating MSC in vitro or ex vivo into osteoprogenitors or osteoblastic cells or a cell population comprising osteoprogenitors and/or osteoblastic cells using FGF-2 and GDF-8. In addition, the present invention relates to osteoprogenitors or osteoblastic cells or a cell population comprising osteoprogenitors and/or osteoblastic cells obtainable by such methods and to the osteoprogenitors or osteoblastic cells or a cell population comprising osteoprogenitors and/or osteoblastic cells for use in the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases.