MARKER FOR IDENTIFYING HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS

摘要

The present invention is related to a method for identifying, isolating and manufacturing pluripotent hematopoietic stem useful as transplants for treating blood diseases. The hematopoietic stem cells and/or committed progenitor cells are identified using antibodies capable of specifically recognizing human podocalyxin- like proteins (hPCLPs) expressed in hematopoietic tissues. The : human hematopoietic tissue derived hhPCLPs are useful as markers for assessing the quality of stem cells obtained by conventional methods and which comprise only a fraction of undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells. The hhPCLP differs from other known PCLPs in that it is obtainable from the hematopoietic tissue, has a specific glycosylation pattern and in its glycosylated form an apparent MW of lOO-llO kDa. Said hhPCLP can be identified with antibodies raised against PCLPs from different species and tis- sues by per se known methods.