PREPARATION AND DISTRUBUTION OF ADULT STEM CELLS

描述(由申请人提供)：这项建议的总体目标是建立一个中心，用于制备、质量测试，并分发给多名研究人员，称为MSCs。这些细胞已经引起了越来越多的关注，因为它们很容易从患者体内分离出来，在培养中扩增，并进行基因工程。它们可以分化为多个细胞系，最近有报道称，它们在治疗成骨不全、脊髓损伤、中风和心肌病等疾病的动物模型中具有一定的疗效。该中心将解决导致MSCs研究延迟的一个关键问题，即许多研究人员在获得标准化的细胞制剂方面遇到的困难。另有84名调查员为本申请提供了支持信，这反映出迫切需要一个在此提议的中心。这份名单基本上包括了这一快速增长领域的所有领先调查人员。具体目标是建立一个中心，该中心将：1)准备连续供应的经过彻底质量测试的人MSCs，并应要求将其分发给多个机构的其他研究人员进行细胞研究；2)准备类似的连续供应的大鼠MSCs，分发给多个机构的研究人员；3)从其他机构的研究人员送来的人骨髓抽吸物中制备MSCs，并将经过质量测试的MSCs返回给相同的研究人员。此外，对其他机构的研究人员制备的间充质干细胞进行质量测试；以及4)开发使用最近在细胞上发现的一系列表面表位的抗体来分离和鉴定人类间充质干细胞的改进方法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall aim of this proposal is to establish a Center for preparation, quality testing, and distribution to multiple investigators of the adult stem cells referred to as MSCs. The cells have attracted increasing attention because they are readily isolated from the patient, expanded in culture, and genetically engineered. They can differentiate into multiple cell lineages and have recently reported to have some efficacy in animal models for diseases such as osteogenesis imperfecta, spinal cord injury, stroke, and cardiomyopathies. The Center will address a critical problem that has delayed research with MSCs; the difficulties that many investigators have encountered in obtaining standardized preparations of the cells. The urgent need for a Center of the kind proposed here is reflected by the fact that 84 other investigators have provided Letters of Support for the present application. The list includes essentially all the leading investigators in this rapidly growing field. The Specific Aims are to establish a Center that will: 1) prepare a continuous supply of human MSCs that are thoroughly quality tested and distribute them on request to other investigators at multiple institutions for research on the cells; 2) prepare a similar continuous supply of rat MSCs for distribution to investigators at multiple institutions; 3) prepare MSCs from human bone marrow aspirates sent by investigators from other institutions and return the quality-tested MSCs to same investigators. Also, carry out quality testing of MSCs prepared by investigators at other institutions; and 4) develop improved methods of isolating and characterizing human MSCs using the antibodies to a series of surface epitopes that have recently been identified on the cells.