METHODS TO MAINTAIN, IMPROVE AND RESTORE THE CARTILAGE PHENOTYPE OF CHONDROCYTES

摘要

Disclosed is a population of non-adhering, non-passaged regulatory cells obtained by a method comprising the steps of: a) mechanically and/or enzymatically treating an isolated cartilage sample to obtain individual cells, b) transferring said individual cells obtained under (a) to a cell cultivation recipient to allow the expansion of chondrocytes in a monolayer, c) maintaining said recipient in adequate cell cultivation conditions so as to obtain a population of adherent cells and a supernatant comprising a population of non-adherent cells, d) collecting from said recipient, after at least 2 days and/or upon at least about 30% confluency, said supernatant comprising said population of non-adherent cells, and e) collecting from said supernatant said population of non-adherent cells, corresponding to said regulatory cell population, for use as a medicament. Also disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition comprising said non-adhering, non-passaged regulatory cells.