ISOLATION AND PRESERVATION OF FETAL AND NEONATAL HEMATOPOIETIC STEM AND PROGENITOR CELLS OF THE BLOOD

摘要

The present invention relates to hematopoietic stem and
progenitor cells of neonatal or fetal blood that are
cryopreserved, and the therapeutic uses of such stem and
progenitor cells upon thawing. In particular, the present
invention relates to the therapeutic use of fetal or neonatal
stem cells for hematopoietic (or immune) reconstitution.
Hematopoietic reconstitution with the cells of the invention
can be valuable in the treatment or prevention of various
diseases and disorders such as anemias, malignancies,
autoimmune disorders, and various immune dysfunctions and
deficiencies. In another embodiment, fetal or neonatal
hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells which contain a
heterologous gene sequence can be used for hematopoietic
reconstitution in gene therapy. In a preferred embodiment of
the invention, neonatal or fetal blood cells that have been
cryopreserved and thawed can be used for autologous (self)
reconstitution.