METHODS OF USING CD8+/TCR- FACILITATING CELLS (FC) FOR THE ENGRAFTMENT OF PURIFIED HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS (HSC)

摘要

The present invention relates to the identification and use of facilitating cells that are critical for engagement of purified "hematopoietic stem cells" (HSC), and more specifically this invention relates to two cell populations of CD8+ cells, that is, CD8+/TCR- "facilitating cells" (FC) which are critical to "hematopoietic stem cells" (HSC) survival and self-renewal, and CD8+/TCR+ cells which enhance the level of donor engraftment but do not promote long-term, durable engraftment. These two cell populations may have a wide range of applications, including but not limited to, hematopoietic reconstitution by bone marrow transplantation for the treatment of cancers, anemias, autoimmunity, immunodeficiency, viral infections and metabolic disorders as well as facilitation of solid organ, tissue and cellular transplantation.