SYSTEM FOR THE MAINTENANCE, GROWTH AND DIFFERENTIATION OF HUMAN AND NON-HUMAN PRIMATE PLURIPOTENT STEM, PROGENITOR AND MATURE BONE MARROW CELLS

摘要

The present invention relates to a method of engrafting human or non-human primate pluripotent stem cells, such as CD34+ cells, in a mouse. The method comprises administering to irradiated mice immortalized human or non-human primate bone marrow stromal cells which express cytokines supporting growth of cells, such as CD34+ cells, and, sequentially or simultaneously, administering purified human or non-human primate CD34+ cells. The stromal cells and CD34+ cells can be administered by intraperitoneal or intravenous injections. The invention can be used to evaluate gene therapy protocols for human CD34+ cells as well as having applications in the treatment of patients exposed to irradiation such as during a bone marrow transplant. The invention also provides an animal model for the study of human hematopoiesis.