Treatment of cone cell degeneration with transfected lineage negative hematopoietic stem cells

摘要

Transfected, mammalian, adult bone marrow-derived, lineage negative hematopoietic stem cell populations (Lin⁻ HSCs) contain endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) capable of rescuing retinal blood vessels and neuronal networks in the eye. Preferably at least about 20% of the cells express the cell surface antigen CD31. The transfected stem cells express an antiangiogenic fragment of tryptophanyl tRNA synthetase (TrpRS). The transfected Lin⁻ HSC populations are useful for treatment of ocular vascular diseases and to ameliorate cone cell degeneration in the retina. In a preferred embodiment, the Lin⁻ HSCs are isolated by extracting bone marrow from an adult mammal; separating a plurality of monocytes from the bone marrow; labeling the monocytes with biotin-conjugated lineage panel antibodies to one or more lineage surface antigens; removing of monocytes that are positive for the lineage surface antigens from the plurality of monocytes, and recovering a Lin⁻ HSC population containing EPCs. The treatment may be enhanced by stimulating proliferation of activated astrocytes in the retina using a laser.