HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS AND METHODS OF TREATMENT OF NEOVASCULAR EYE DISEASES THEREWITH

摘要

Isolated, mammalian, bone marrow-derived, lineage negative hematopoietic stem cell populations (Lin HSC) contain endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) capable of forming retinal blood vessels. At least about 50% of the cells in the isolated Lin HSC population include cell surface markers for CD31 and c-kit. Up to about 8% of the cells can include the Sca-1 cell marker, and up to about 4% of the cells can include the Flk-1/KDR marker. The isolated Lin HSC populations of the present invention are useful for treatment of ocular vascular diseases. The isolated Lin HSC populations that have been transfected with therapeutically useful genes are also provided, which are useful for delivering genes to the eye for cell-based gene therapy.