U.S. patent application number 13/401796 was filed with the patent office on 2012-06-14 for intracoronary device and method of use thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to ADVANCED CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS INC.. Invention is credited to Gabriel Asongwe, Ken Bueche, Paul Consigny, John Eric Henckel, Jeong Lee, Florian Ludwig, Evgenia Mandrusov, Mary Beth Michaels, Gene Michal, Joseph J. Sciacca, Richard Todd Thornton, Fidel Albert Urrabazo, Daniel Wiegand.
Application Number | 20120148609 13/401796 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37589806 |
Filed Date | 2012-06-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120148609 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Consigny; Paul ; et
al. |
June 14, 2012 |
INTRACORONARY DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF
Abstract
Engraftment of therapeutic cells and agents to a target site in
an organism is enhanced by mechanical, chemical and biological
methods and systems.
Inventors: |
Consigny; Paul; (San Jose,
CA) ; Asongwe; Gabriel; (San Jose, CA) ;
Michaels; Mary Beth; (Sunnyvale, CA) ; Michal;
Gene; (San Francisco, CA) ; Mandrusov; Evgenia;
(Santa Clara, CA) ; Lee; Jeong; (Diamond Bar,
CA) ; Ludwig; Florian; (Mountain View, CA) ;
Henckel; John Eric; (Houston, TX) ; Sciacca; Joseph
J.; (Houston, TX) ; Bueche; Ken; (Friendswood,
TX) ; Thornton; Richard Todd; (League City, TX)
; Urrabazo; Fidel Albert; (San Antonio, TX) ;
Wiegand; Daniel; (Houston, TX) |
Assignee: |
ADVANCED CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS
INC.
Santa Clara
CA
|
Family ID: |
37589806 |
Appl. No.: |
13/401796 |
Filed: |
February 21, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11170750 |
Jun 29, 2005 |
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13401796 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
424/178.1 ;
424/93.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61K 38/18 20130101;
A61P 41/00 20180101; A61K 38/19 20130101; A61K 35/545 20130101;
A61P 43/00 20180101; A61K 38/19 20130101; A61P 9/00 20180101; A61K
2300/00 20130101; A61K 35/545 20130101; A61K 2300/00 20130101; A61K
2300/00 20130101; A61K 38/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
424/178.1 ;
424/93.7 |
International
Class: |
A61K 35/12 20060101
A61K035/12; A61P 43/00 20060101 A61P043/00; A61K 39/395 20060101
A61K039/395 |
Claims
1-92. (canceled)
93. A method of enhancing engraftment of therapeutic cells at a
target site in a mammal comprising contacting the therapeutic cells
with a biological linker, wherein at the linker is attached to the
cell membrane of a therapeutic cell, and wherein at least one
functionality of the linker molecule has affinity to the surface of
the therapeutic cell, and wherein at least one other functionality
of the linker has affinity to the surface of the lumen surface of
the target area vasculature, and wherein at least one said
functionality of the linker is N-hydroxysuccinimide.
94. The method of claim 93, wherein the linker is irreversibly
attached to the therapeutic cell.
95. The method of claim 93, wherein the linker is reversibly
attached to the therapeutic cell.
96. The method of claim 93, wherein the linker is a biological
conjugate.
97. The method of claim 93, wherein the linker is a multifunctional
linker.
98. The method of claim 93, wherein the linker is a hi-functional
linker.
99. The method of claim 93, wherein the linker molecule comprises
at least one of an antibody, an antibody fragment, a peptide, or an
affibody.
100. The method of claim 93, wherein the functionalities may be
separated by a spacer.
101. The method of claim 100, wherein the spacer is a hydrophilic
polymer.
102. The method of claim 101, wherein the spacer is PEG.
103. The method of claim 100, wherein the spacer has branches or is
of star form.
104. The method of claim 93, wherein the linker comprises linked
antibodies, fragments of antibodies (F.sub.ab fragments),
affibodies, peptides or other molecules with affinity to receptor
molecules on the target surface.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This document relates generally to delivery of therapeutic
cells to a target site of a mammal and in particular, to a method
and apparatus for enhancing engraftment at the target site.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Damaged tissue, such as a lesion in a vessel, can be treated
with therapeutic cells. For example, therapeutic cells can be
injected into the vasculature to treat a lesion in the vessel. Some
therapeutic cells will attach to the target site and provide
treatment to the damaged tissue. However, depending on factors such
as the dimensions of the target site, some of the therapeutic cells
will flow past the lesion site without attaching to the site. Those
therapeutic cells that fail to attach provide no benefit. Moreover,
it has been reported that autologous bone marrow cells isolated
from patients with chronic heart failure have "significantly
reduced migratory and colony forming activity in vitro and a
reduced neovascularization capacity in vivo" compared to cells from
healthy controls (Circulation, 2004; 109: 1615-1622). The inability
of such cells to migrate may lead to limited engraftment and colony
forming activity may contribute to "limited therapeutic
potential."
[0003] What is needed are methods and systems for improving the
engraftment of therapeutic cells at a target site or region, e.g.,
a region of damaged tissue.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Various embodiments of the present subject matter provide
enhanced migratory function, enhanced adhesion probability,
increased residence time (for example longer residence time of the
therapeutic cell in the coronary arteries), increased engraftment
and increased likelihood of therapeutic potential. The methods and
system disclosed herein include adding agents or secondary
processing aimed at improving delivery and engraftment of delivered
cells.
[0005] The efficiency of cell delivery and engraftment depends on
factors including the infusion regimen, local milieu and the state
of the cell.
[0006] For example, the infusion regimen includes such
considerations as the shear rate and the cell residency time. In
addition, the local milieu includes considerations such as the
homing gradient, the presence of endothelial cells adhesion
molecules, presence of bone marrow adhesion molecules and improved
vessel permeability. Furthermore, the state of the cell is a
function of cell viability, concentration and presence of adhesion
molecules.
[0007] The invention comprises a method of enhancing engraftment of
therapeutic cells at a target site in a mammal comprising
conditioning the cells to provide cells having an altered number of
adhesion molecules as compared to corresponding cells not subjected
to the conditioning, wherein the conditioning increases the
probability of engraftment of the cell at the target site; and
delivering a composition comprising the conditioned therapeutic
cells to the target site using a intercoronary delivery device.
[0008] The therapeutic cells of the present invention may comprise
pluripotent, totipotent cells, autologous cells, non-autologous
cells, or xenogenic cells. The methods of the present invention
comprise conditioning the cells via biological conditioning,
chemical conditioning, mechanical conditioning, or any combination
thereof.
[0009] The methods of the invention comprise biological
conditioning which comprises contacting the cell with at least one
chemokine, cytokine, growth factor, or exogenous agent. The methods
of the invention comprision biological conditioning which comprises
subjecting the cells to periods of hypoxia.
[0010] The methods of the present invention further comprise
conditioning cells associated with the target site to provide
target cells having an altered number of adhesion molecules as
compared to corresponding target cells not subjected to the
conditioning, wherein the conditioning increases the probability of
engraftment of the therapeutic cells at the target site.
[0011] The present invention provides a method of enhancing
engraftment of a therapeutic cell at a target site in a mammal
comprising delivering a composition comprising the therapeutic cell
and one or more engraftment enhancing agents, wherein the
composition is delivered to the target site using an intercoronary
delivery device.
[0012] The present invention provides a method of enhancing
engraftment of a therapeutic cell at a target site in a mammal
comprising delivering a composition comprising the therapeutic cell
and one or more engraftment enhancing agents, wherein the
composition is delivered to the target site using an implantable
delivery device, and wherein the one or more engraftment enhancing
agents is biocompatible and provides transient, localized ischemia
at the target site.
[0013] The present invention further provides a method of enhancing
engraftment of a therapeutic cell at a target site in a mammal
comprising delivering a composition comprising the therapeutic cell
and one or more engraftment enhancing agents, wherein the
composition is delivered to the target site using an implantable
delivery device, and wherein the one or more engraftment enhancing
agents is biodegradable and provides transient, localized ischemia
at the target site.
[0014] The present invention also provides a method of enhancing
engraftment of a therapeutic cell at a target site in a mammal
comprising subjecting the therapeutic cell to in vitro
conditioning, wherein the conditioning increases the probability of
engraftment of the therapeutic cell at the target site; and
delivering a composition comprising the conditioned therapeutic
cell, wherein the composition is delivered to the target site using
an implantable delivery device.
[0015] The present invention provides a catheter comprising a
catheter body having a dual lumen, a mixing chamber at a terminus
of the catheter body, the mixing chamber having an outlet, a porous
material coupled to a first lumen to generate bubbles within the
mixing chamber, a discharge port coupled to the second lumen to
introduce a cell into the mixing chamber, and a bypass port to
admit blood into the mixing chamber.
[0016] The present invention also provides a method comprising
inducing ischemia at a target site for a transitory period of time,
delivering a therapeutic cell and a viscous agent to the target
site, the viscous agent selected to increase a viscosity of the
therapeutic cell, and restoring normal blood flow to the target
site.
[0017] The present invention provides a method of delivering a
therapeutic cell to a target site in a mammal comprising
introducing a solution including the therapeutic cell and an agent,
wherein the agent is tailored to enhance engraftment of the
therapeutic cell to the target site, and wherein the solution is
introduced using an implantable catheter.
[0018] Also provided by the present invention is a method
comprising modifying a target cell to upregulate an adhesion
molecule counter-receptor, subjecting a therapeutic cell to
mechanical conditioning so as to provide an increased number of
adhesion molecules on the cell surface as compared to a
non-conditioned cell, and delivering the therapeutic cell to the
site of the target cell.
[0019] The present invention provides a method comprising combining
a magnetic particle and a therapeutic cell, applying a static
magnetic field to a target site of a mammal, the static magnetic
field having a gradient oriented in a direction normal to a vessel
wall at the target site, and introducing the therapeutic cell.
[0020] The present invention further provides a method of enhancing
engraftment of therapeutic cells at a target site in a mammal
comprising contacting the therapeutic cells with a biological
linker, wherein at the linker is attached to the cell membrane of a
therapeutic cell, and wherein at least one functionality of the
linker molecule has affinity to the surface of the therapeutic
cell, and wherein at least one other functionality of the linker
has affinity to the surface of the lumen surface of the target area
vasculature.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] In the drawings, like numerals describe similar components
throughout the several views. Like numerals having different letter
suffixes represent different instances of the components.
[0022] FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C illustrate views of a shear module.
[0023] FIG. 1D illustrates surface modified therapeutic cells.
[0024] FIG. 1E illustrates a therapeutic cell attached to a lumen
surface by a bi-functional linker molecule.
[0025] FIG. 2A illustrates surface modified therapeutic cells.
[0026] FIG. 2B illustrates a therapeutic cell attached to a lumen
surface by an N-hydroxy succinimide (NHS) reactive linker
molecules.
[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates an externally applied magnetic field
gradient and an organ.
[0028] FIG. 4A illustrates surface modified endothelial cells.
[0029] FIG. 4B illustrates therapeutic cells attached to a lumen
surface by bi-functional linker molecules.
[0030] FIG. 5A illustrates endothelial cells attached to NHS
reactive linker molecules.
[0031] FIG. 5B illustrates therapeutic cells attached to a lumen
surface by NHS reactive linker molecules.
[0032] FIG. 6A illustrates a system having a dual lumen catheter
body and a bubble producing mixing chamber.
[0033] FIG. 6B illustrates a bubble producing mixing chamber.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] Reference will now be made in detail to certain claims of
the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying text and examples. While the invention will be
described in conjunction with the enumerated claims, it will be
understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to
those claims. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover
all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, which may be
included within the scope of the present invention as defined by
the claims.
I. Definitions
[0035] An "engraftment enhancing agent" is defined herein as an
agent or process of cellular manipulation that promotes, improves
or enhances cellular engraftment of a therapeutic cell at a target
site, for example, an agent that enhances the incorporation, i.e.,
adherence and/or transmigration, of a therapeutic cell in an area
of infarcted myocardium. A process of cellular manipulation that
enhances the incorporation of a therapeutic cell in a target site
includes, for example, subjecting the therapeutic cell to
conditioning, e.g., mechanical conditioning such as shear.
[0036] A "therapeutic cell" is appropriate cellular material
introduced into and/or in the vicinity of damaged tissue. For
example, a "therapeutic cell" includes, but is not limited to, a
pluripotent or totipotent cell, e.g., a cell having broad
developmental potential and "plasticity," for example, an "adult"
stem cell, i.e., a post-natal stem cell, for example, a multipotent
adult progenitor cell, or a cell derived from the bone marrow such
as a hematopoietic stem cell (HSC), a hematopoietic progenitor
cell, a non-hematopoietic mesenchymal stem cell (MSC), or a stromal
cell; an embryonic stem cell, a cell from cord blood, an isolated
CD34.sup.+ cell, fetal cardiomyocytes, skeletal myoblasts,
endothelial progenitor cells. By "therapeutic cell" is also meant
skeletal muscle derived cells, for instance, skeletal muscle cells
and skeletal myoblasts; cardiac derived cells, myocytes, e.g.,
ventricular myocytes, atrial myocytes, SA nodal myocytes, AV nodal
myocytes, smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. In one embodiment,
the therapeutic cells are recombinant cells, such as recombinant
CD34.sup.+ cells. In another embodiment, the therapeutic cells are
capillary endothelium. In yet another embodiment, the therapeutic
cells are autologous cells including xenologous cells, however,
non-autologous cells may be employed.
[0037] By "target cell" is meant a cell located at or in the
vicinity of a "target site" in a subject to which a therapeutic
cell is directed. A "target site" can be an area or region of
vascular damage, disease or injury, or an area proximal to a region
of vascular damage, disease, or injury. For example, a "target
cell" can be an endothelial cell present on the lumen wall of a
patient having myocardial injury or damage, such as in a patient
having experienced myocardial infarction. A "target site" also
includes vasculature, such as arterial and/or venous other than
cardiac and/or coronary. In one example, a "target cell" is an
endothelial cell residing in the vasculature of the target
site.
[0038] By "myocardium" is meant the muscular portion of the heart.
The myocardium includes three major types of muscle fibers: atrial
muscle fibers, ventricular muscle fibers, and specialized
excitatory and conductive muscle fibers.
[0039] "Ischemia" is a condition where oxygen demand of the tissue
is not met due to localized reduction in blood flow caused by
narrowing or occlusion of one or more vessels. "Occlusion" is the
total or partial obstruction of blood flow through a vessel. By
"transient, localized ischemia" is meant a temporary state of
ischemia in a confined area of tissue caused by temporary total or
partial obstruction of blood flow through a vessel. For example,
"transient, localized ischemia" refers to a temporary decrease in
blood flow below that needed to maintain adequate tissue
oxygenation, also known as a supply demand imbalance or a demand
that exceeds supply.
[0040] By "homing" or "homing process" is meant the migration of
cells, e.g., therapeutic cells such as stem cells, and attachment
to a target site, i.e., a site of injury or ischemia. Once
attached, an environment is provided that is favorable to the
growth and differentiation of cardiomyocytes because of increased
vascular permeability, cytokine release, and adhesion protein
expression. The expression of adhesion molecules, such as vascular
endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and stromal cell-derived factor-1
(SDF-1), is up-regulated in hypoxic tissue.
[0041] As used herein, the phrase "adhesion molecules" refers to,
for example, ligands and receptors that play a role in
inter-cellular adhesion, such as the initiation of contact
(tethering) between a therapeutic cell, e.g., a stem cell, and a
target cell, e.g., an endothelial cell. For example, an endothelial
cell present at the site of vascular injury expresses a receptor
for a ligand expressed on a stem cell. Exemplary "adhesion
molecules" that may be present on a therapeutic cell include, but
are not limited to, CD44, P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1;
CD 162), hematopoietic cell E-/L-selectin ligand (HCELL),
E-selectin ligand-1, Very Late Antigen-4 (VLA-4; CD49d), Leukocyte
Function Associated Antigen-1 (LFA-1), an integrin, such as an
.alpha.4 integrin or a .beta.2 integrin, CD31, VE-Cadherin (CD144),
PECAM (CD31), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1),
intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, a selectin such as
P-Selectin (CD62P), E-Selectin (CD62E), L-selectin,
.alpha.4.beta.7, Mac-1, and cutaneous lymphocyte antigen. While not
involved directed in inter-cellular adhesion per se, the phrase
"adhesion molecules" also includes receptors that are present on
either therapeutic cells or target cells, e.g., CD34, CD133, VEGF
receptor 1 (flt-1/flk-2), VEGF receptor 2 (flk-1/KDR), and CXCR4,
that can be utilized to manipulate the adhesion of a therapeutic
cell to a target cell. For example, as discussed herein,
bi-functional antibodies that specifically bind to CD133 may be
utilized to modify the surface of a target cell.
[0042] To migrate to tissue(s), a therapeutic cell must first
adhere to the target site with sufficient strength to overcome the
shear forces of blood flow in a process known as "rolling." Once
tethered, the therapeutic cell "rolls" via binding to its
corresponding endothelial adhesion molecule.
[0043] A "vector" or "construct" (sometimes referred to as gene
delivery or gene transfer "vehicle") refers to a macromolecule or
complex of molecules comprising a polynucleotide to be delivered to
a host cell, either in vitro or in vivo. The polynucleotide to be
delivered may comprise a coding sequence of interest for gene
therapy. Vectors include, for example, viral vectors (such as
adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses (AAV), lentiviruses,
herpesvirus and retroviruses), liposomes and other lipid-containing
complexes, and other macromolecular complexes (such as polycations,
e.g., cationic polymers) capable of mediating delivery of a
polynucleotide to a host cell. Vectors can also comprise other
components or functionalities that further modulate gene delivery
and/or gene expression, or that otherwise provide beneficial
properties to the targeted cells. Such other components include,
for example, components that influence binding or targeting to
cells (including components that mediate cell-type or
tissue-specific binding); components that influence uptake of the
vector nucleic acid by the cell; components that influence
localization of the polynucleotide within the cell after uptake
(such as agents mediating nuclear localization); and components
that influence expression of the polynucleotide. Such components
also might include markers, such as detectable and/or selectable
markers that can be used to detect or select for cells that have
taken up and are expressing the nucleic acid delivered by the
vector. Such components can be provided as a natural feature of the
vector (such as the use of certain viral vectors which have
components or functionalities mediating binding and uptake), or
vectors can be modified to provide such functionalities. A large
variety of such vectors are known in the art and are generally
available. When a vector is maintained in a host cell, the vector
can either be stably replicated by the cells during mitosis as an
autonomous structure, incorporated within the genome of the host
cell, or maintained in the host cell's nucleus or cytoplasm.
[0044] A "recombinant viral vector" refers to a viral vector
comprising one or more heterologous genes or sequences. Since many
viral vectors exhibit size constraints associated with packaging,
the heterologous genes or sequences are typically introduced by
replacing one or more portions of the viral genome. Such viruses
may become replication-defective, requiring the deleted function(s)
to be provided in trans during viral replication and encapsidation
(by using, e.g., a helper virus or a packaging cell line carrying
genes necessary for replication and/or encapsidation). Modified
viral vectors in which a polynucleotide to be delivered is carried
on the outside of the viral particle have also been described (see,
e.g., Curiel et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88:8850
(1991)).
[0045] "Gene delivery," "gene transfer," and the like as used
herein, are terms referring to the introduction of an exogenous
polynucleotide (sometimes referred to as a "transgene") into a host
cell, irrespective of the method used for the introduction. Such
methods include a variety of well-known techniques such as
vector-mediated gene transfer (by, e.g., viral
infection/transfection, or various other protein-based, lipid-based
or polymer-based gene delivery complexes) as well as techniques
facilitating the delivery of "naked" polynucleotides (such as
electroporation, "gene gun" delivery and various other techniques
used for the introduction of polynucleotides). The introduced
polynucleotide may be stably or transiently maintained in the host
cell. Stable maintenance typically requires that the introduced
polynucleotide either contains an origin of replication compatible
with the host cell or integrates into a replicon of the host cell
such as an extrachromosomal replicon (e.g., a plasmid) or a nuclear
or mitochondrial chromosome. A number of vectors are known to be
capable of mediating transfer of genes to mammalian cells, as is
known in the art.
[0046] By "transgene" is meant any piece of a nucleic acid molecule
(for example, DNA) which is inserted by artifice into a cell either
transiently or permanently, and becomes part of the organism if
integrated into the genome or maintained extrachromosomally. Such a
transgene may include a gene that is partly or entirely
heterologous (i.e., foreign) to the transgenic organism, or may
represent a gene homologous to an endogenous gene of the
organism.
[0047] By "transgenic cell" is meant a cell containing a transgene.
For example, a stem cell transformed with a vector containing an
expression cassette can be used to produce a population of cells
having altered phenotypic characteristics.
[0048] The term "wild-type" refers to a gene or gene product that
has the characteristics of that gene or gene product when isolated
from a naturally occurring source. A wild-type gene is that which
is most frequently observed in a population and is thus arbitrarily
designated the "normal" or "wild-type" form of the gene. In
contrast, the term "modified" or "mutant" refers to a gene or gene
product that displays modifications in sequence and or functional
properties (i.e., altered characteristics) when compared to the
wild-type gene or gene product. It is noted that
naturally-occurring mutants can be isolated; these are identified
by the fact that they have altered characteristics when compared to
the wild-type gene or gene product.
[0049] The term "transduction" denotes the delivery of a
polynucleotide to a recipient cell either in vivo or in vitro, via
a viral vector and preferably via a replication-defective viral
vector, such as via a recombinant AAV.
[0050] The term "heterologous" as it relates to nucleic acid
sequences such as gene sequences and control sequences, denotes
sequences that are not normally joined together, and/or are not
normally associated with a particular cell. Thus, a "heterologous"
region of a nucleic acid construct or a vector is a segment of
nucleic acid within or attached to another nucleic acid molecule
that is not found in association with the other molecule in nature.
For example, a heterologous region of a nucleic acid construct
could include a coding sequence flanked by sequences not found in
association with the coding sequence in nature, i.e., a
heterologous promoter. Another example of a heterologous coding
sequence is a construct where the coding sequence itself is not
found in nature (e.g., synthetic sequences having codons different
from the native gene). Similarly, a cell transformed with a
construct which is not normally present in the cell would be
considered heterologous.
[0051] By "DNA" is meant a polymeric form of deoxyribonucleotides
(adenine, guanine, thymine, or cytosine) in double-stranded or
single-stranded form found, inter alia, in linear DNA molecules
(e.g., restriction fragments), viruses, plasmids, and chromosomes.
In discussing the structure of particular DNA molecules, sequences
may be described herein according to the normal convention of
giving only the sequence in the 5' to 3' direction along the
nontranscribed strand of DNA (i.e., the strand having the sequence
complementary to the mRNA). The term captures molecules that
include the four bases adenine, guanine, thymine, or cytosine, as
well as molecules that include base analogues which are known in
the art.
[0052] As used herein, the terms "complementary" or
"complementarity" are used in reference to polynucleotides (i.e., a
sequence of nucleotides) related by the base-pairing rules. For
example, the sequence "A-G-T," is complementary to the sequence
"T-C-A." Complementarity may be "partial," in which only some of
the nucleic acids' bases are matched according to the base pairing
rules. There may be "complete" or "total" complementarity between
the nucleic acids. The degree of complementarity between nucleic
acid strands has significant effects on the efficiency and strength
of hybridization between nucleic acid strands. This is of
particular importance in amplification reactions, as well as
detection methods that depend upon binding between nucleic
acids.
[0053] DNA molecules have "5' ends" and "3' ends" because
mononucleotides are reacted to make oligonucleotides or
polynucleotides in a manner such that the 5' phosphate of one
mononucleotide pentose ring is attached to the 3' oxygen of its
neighbor in one direction via a phosphodiester linkage. Therefore,
an end of an oligonucleotide or polynucleotide is referred to as
the "5' end" if its 5' phosphate is not linked to the 3' oxygen of
a mononucleotide pentose ring and as the "3' end" if its 3' oxygen
is not linked to a 5' phosphate of a subsequent mononucleotide
pentose ring. As used herein, a nucleic acid sequence, even if
internal to a larger oligonucleotide or polynucleotide, also may be
said to have 5' and 3' ends. In either a linear or circular DNA
molecule, discrete elements are referred to as being "upstream" or
5' of the "downstream" or 3' elements. This terminology reflects
the fact that transcription proceeds in a 5' to 3' fashion along
the DNA strand. The promoter and enhancer elements that direct
transcription of a linked gene are generally located 5' or upstream
of the coding region. However, enhancer elements can exert their
effect even when located 3' of the promoter element and the coding
region. Transcription termination and polyadenylation signals are
located 3' or downstream of the coding region.
[0054] A "gene," "polynucleotide," "coding region," or "sequence"
that "encodes" a particular protein is a nucleic acid molecule that
is transcribed and optionally also translated into a gene product,
i.e., a polypeptide, in vitro or in vivo when placed under the
control of appropriate regulatory sequences. The coding region may
be present in either a cDNA, genomic DNA, or RNA form. When present
in a DNA form, the nucleic acid molecule may be single-stranded
(i.e., the sense strand) or double-stranded. The boundaries of a
coding region are determined by a start codon at the 5' (amino)
terminus and a translation stop codon at the 3' (carboxy) terminus.
A gene can include, but is not limited to, cDNA from prokaryotic or
eukaryotic mRNA, genomic DNA sequences from prokaryotic or
eukaryotic DNA, and synthetic DNA sequences. A transcription
termination sequence will usually be located 3' to the gene
sequence.
[0055] The term "control elements" refers collectively to promoter
regions, polyadenylation signals, transcription termination
sequences, upstream regulatory domains, origins of replication,
internal ribosome entry sites ("IRES"), enhancers, splice
junctions, and the like, which collectively provide for the
replication, transcription, post-transcriptional processing and
translation of a coding sequence in a recipient cell. Not all of
these control elements need always be present so long as the
selected coding sequence is capable of being replicated,
transcribed and translated in an appropriate host cell.
[0056] The term "promoter region" is used herein in its ordinary
sense to refer to a nucleotide region comprising a DNA regulatory
sequence, wherein the regulatory sequence is derived from a gene
which is capable of binding RNA polymerase and initiating
transcription of a downstream (3' direction) coding sequence.
[0057] By "enhancer element" is meant a nucleic acid sequence that,
when positioned proximate to a promoter, confers increased
transcription activity relative to the transcription activity
resulting from the promoter in the absence of the enhancer
domain.
[0058] By "cardiac-specific enhancer element" is meant an element,
which, when operably linked to a promoter, directs gene expression
in a cardiac cell and does not direct gene expression in all
tissues or all cell types. Cardiac-specific enhancers of the
present subject matter may be naturally occurring or non-naturally
occurring. One skilled in the art will recognize that the synthesis
of non-naturally occurring enhancers can be performed using
standard oligonucleotide synthesis techniques.
[0059] By "operably linked" with reference to nucleic acid
molecules is meant that two or more nucleic acid molecules (e.g., a
nucleic acid molecule to be transcribed, a promoter, and an
enhancer element) are connected in such a way as to permit
transcription of the nucleic acid molecule. "Operably linked" with
reference to peptide and/or polypeptide molecules is meant that two
or more peptide and/or polypeptide molecules are connected in such
a way as to yield a single polypeptide chain, i.e., a fusion
polypeptide, having at least one property of each peptide and/or
polypeptide component of the fusion. The fusion polypeptide is
preferably chimeric, i.e., composed of heterologous molecules.
[0060] "Homology" refers to the percent of identity between two
polynucleotides or two polypeptides. The correspondence between one
sequence and to another can be determined by techniques known in
the art. For example, homology can be determined by a direct
comparison of the sequence information between two polypeptide
molecules by aligning the sequence information and using readily
available computer programs. Alternatively, homology can be
determined by hybridization of polynucleotides under conditions
that form stable duplexes between homologous regions, followed by
digestion with single strand-specific nuclease(s), and size
determination of the digested fragments. Two DNA, or two
polypeptide, sequences are "substantially homologous" to each other
when at least about 80%, preferably at least about 90%, and most
preferably at least about 95% of the nucleotides, or amino acids,
respectively match over a defined length of the molecules, as
determined using the methods above.
[0061] By "mammal" is meant any member of the class Mammalia
including, without limitation, humans and nonhuman primates such as
chimpanzees and other apes and monkey species; farm animals such as
cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and horses; domestic mammals such as
dogs and cats; laboratory animals including rodents such as mice,
rats, rabbits and guinea pigs, and the like.
[0062] By "derived from" is meant that a nucleic acid molecule was
either made or designed from a parent nucleic acid molecule, the
derivative retaining substantially the same functional features of
the parent nucleic acid molecule, e.g., encoding a gene product
with substantially the same activity as the gene product encoded by
the parent nucleic acid molecule from which it was made or
designed.
[0063] By "expression construct" or "expression cassette" is meant
a nucleic acid molecule that is capable of directing transcription.
An expression construct includes, at the least, a promoter.
Additional elements, such as an enhancer, and/or a transcription
termination signal, may also be included.
[0064] The term "exogenous," when used in relation to a protein,
gene, nucleic acid, or polynucleotide in a cell or organism refers
to a protein, gene, nucleic acid, or polynucleotide which has been
introduced into the cell or organism by artificial or natural
means, or in relation a cell refers to a cell which was isolated
and subsequently introduced to other cells or to an organism by
artificial or natural means. An exogenous nucleic acid may be from
a different organism or cell, or it may be one or more additional
copies of a nucleic acid which occurs naturally within the organism
or cell. An exogenous cell may be from a different organism, or it
may be from the same organism. By way of a non-limiting example, an
exogenous nucleic acid is in a chromosomal location different from
that of natural cells, or is otherwise flanked by a different
nucleic acid sequence than that found in nature.
[0065] The term "isolated" when used in relation to a nucleic acid,
peptide or polypeptide refers to a nucleic acid sequence, peptide
or polypeptide that is identified and separated from at least one
contaminant nucleic acid, polypeptide or other biological component
with which it is ordinarily associated in its natural source.
Isolated nucleic acid, peptide or polypeptide is present in a form
or setting that is different from that in which it is found in
nature. For example, a given DNA sequence (e.g., a gene) is found
on the host cell chromosome in proximity to neighboring genes; RNA
sequences, such as a specific mRNA sequence encoding a specific
protein, are found in the cell as a mixture with numerous other
mRNAs that encode a multitude of proteins. The isolated nucleic
acid molecule may be present in single-stranded or double-stranded
form. When an isolated nucleic acid molecule is to be utilized to
express a protein, the molecule will contain at a minimum the sense
or coding strand (i.e., the molecule may single-stranded), but may
contain both the sense and anti-sense strands (i.e., the molecule
may be double-stranded).
[0066] The term "recombinant DNA molecule" as used herein refers to
a DNA molecule that is comprised of segments of DNA joined together
by means of molecular biological techniques.
[0067] The term "recombinant protein" or "recombinant polypeptide"
as used herein refers to a protein molecule that is expressed from
a recombinant DNA molecule.
[0068] The term "peptide," "polypeptide" and protein" are used
interchangeably herein unless otherwise distinguished.
[0069] An "antibody" is a protein of the immune system that
recognizes antigens and thereby triggers an immune response. By
"antibody fragment" is meant a portion or part of an antibody
having an antigen-binding domain.
SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0070] In one specific embodiment, the present invention provides a
method of enhancing engraftment of therapeutic cells at a target
site in a mammal comprising conditioning the cells to provide cells
having an altered number of adhesion molecules as compared to
corresponding cells not subjected to the conditioning, wherein the
conditioning increases the probability of engraftment of the cell
at the target site; and delivering a composition comprising the
conditioned therapeutic cells to the target site using a
intracoronary delivery device.
[0071] In another specific embodiment of the present invention, the
therapeutic cells comprise pluripotent or totipotent cells. In
another specific embodiment of the present invention, the
therapeutic cells comprise autologous cells, non-autologous cells,
or xenogenic cells. In yet another specific embodiment of the
present invention, the mammal is a human.
[0072] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
conditioning comprises biological conditioning, chemical
conditioning, mechanical conditioning, or any combination
thereof.
[0073] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
adhesion molecule is CD44, P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1
(PSGL-1; CD 162), hematopoietic cell E-/L-selectin ligand (HCELL),
E-selectin ligand-1, Very Late Antigen-4 (VLA-4; CD49d), Leukocyte
Function Associated Antigen-1 (LFA-1), an integrin, such as an
.alpha.4 integrin or a .beta.2 integrin, CD31, VE-Cadherin (CD144),
PECAM (CD31), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1),
intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, a selectin such as
P-Selectin (CD62P), E-Selectin (CD62E), L-selectin,
.alpha.4.beta.7, Mac-1, cutaneous lymphocyte antigen, CD34, CD133,
VEGF receptor 1 (flt-1/flk-2), VEGF receptor 2 (flk-1/KDR), or
CXCR4.
[0074] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
surface density of adhesion molecules on the cells is increased as
a result of conditioning.
[0075] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
conditioning comprises mechanical conditioning. In another specific
embodiment of the present invention, the mechanical conditioning
comprises subjecting the therapeutic cells to a mechanical shear.
In another specific embodiment of the invention, the mechanical
shear is induced by a programmable pump. In another specific
embodiment, the mechanical shear in the range of about 5
dynes/cm.sup.2 up to about 100 dynes/cm.sup.2.
[0076] In another specific embodiment of the present invention, the
conditioning comprises biological conditioning. In one specific
embodiment of the present invention, the biological conditioning
comprises contacting the cell with at least one chemokine.
[0077] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
chemokine is Il-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-4, IL-8, SDF-1, MIP-1,
MCP-1/2/3/4 or lymphoactin.
[0078] In another specific embodiment of the present invention, the
biological conditioning comprises contacting the cell with at least
one cytokine. In one specific embodiment of the present invention,
the cytokine is a platelet derived cytokine, granulocyte
colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), oxidized LDL, tumor necrosis
factor-alpha, interleukin-1, or stem cell factor (SCF).
[0079] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
biological conditioning comprises contacting the cell with at least
one growth factor. In another specific embodiment of the present
invention, at least one growth factor is VEGF, FGF, Insulin Growth
Factor (IGF), bFGF, Hepatocyte Growth Factor, acidic fibroblast
growth factor, fibroblast growth factor-4, fibroblast growth
factor-5, epidural growth factor, or platelet-derived growth
factor.
[0080] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
biological conditioning comprises contacting the cell with PR39,
HIF 1 alpha, HIF 2 alpha, Insulin Growth Factor (IGF), VEGF, bFGF,
Hepatocyte Growth Factor, eNOS enhancers, P38 inhibitors, statins
or S1P agonists.
[0081] In another specific embodiment of the present invention, the
biological conditioning comprises contacting the cell with an
exogenous agent. In one specific embodiment of the present
invention, the exogenous agent comprises a biological conjugate,
linker, or an expression cassette encoding an adhesion molecule
gene product.
[0082] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the
biological conditioning comprises subjecting the cells to periods
of hypoxia.
[0083] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
conditioning comprises chemical conditioning. In one specific
embodiment of the present invention, the chemical conditioning
comprises conjugating a molecule or molecular moiety to the surface
of the cell. In another specific embodiment, the chemical
conditioning comprises attaching a molecule or molecular moiety to
the surface of the cell. In one specific embodiment of the present
invention, the chemical conditioning comprises contacting the
therapeutic cells with at least one irritant. In another specific
embodiment of the present invention, the chemical conditioning
comprises contacting the therapeutic cells with at least one
stimulant.
[0084] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
composition further comprises a viscous agent. In one embodiment of
the invention, the viscous agent is tocopherol, a lipid emulsion
such as an emulsified vegetable oil, a surfactant, a hydrophilic
polymer, or any combination thereof.
[0085] In a specific embodiment of the invention, the composition
further comprises an activated platelet or a platelet-derived
microparticle. In another specific embodiment of the invention, the
composition further comprises a calcium ionophore, oleic acid,
histamine, DMSO, histamine, bradykinin, serotonin, thrombin, VEGF,
a leukotriene or a vasodilator. In a specific embodiment of the
invention, the vasodilator is an ACE inhibitor or a nitrate.
[0086] In another specific embodiment of the present invention, the
composition further comprises at least one agent that increases
bumping frequency. In one specific embodiment of the present
invention, the agent to increase the bumping frequency is a
microbubble, a liposome, a lipid vesicle, a vesicle with membranes
formed from di-block or tri-block co-polymers, a platelet-derived
microparticle, or a microparticle.
[0087] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
conditioning comprises contacting the cells with a magnetically
responsive particle. In another specific embodiment of the
invention, further comprising applying an external magnetic field
gradient to the mammal following delivery of the composition. In a
specific embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic particle
is labeled. In one embodiment of the invention, the magnetic
particle is labeled with CD44, P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1
(PSGL-1; CD 162), hematopoietic cell E-/L-selectin ligand (HCELL),
E-selectin ligand-1, Very Late Antigen-4 (VLA-4; CD49d), Leukocyte
Function Associated Antigen-1 (LFA-1), an integrin, such as an
.alpha.4 integrin or a .beta.2 integrin, CD31, VE-Cadherin (CD144),
PECAM (CD31), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1),
intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, a selectin such as
P-Selectin (CD62P), E-Selectin (CD62E), L-selectin,
.alpha.4.beta.7, Mac-1, cutaneous lymphocyte antigen, CD34, CD133,
VEGF receptor 1 (flt-1/flk-2), VEGF receptor 2 (flk-1/KDR) or
CXCR4.
[0088] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
composition further comprises a gaseous agent. In a specific
embodiment of the present invention, the gaseous agent induces
transient, localized ischemia at the target site. In another
embodiment of the present invention, the gaseous agent is carbon
dioxide.
[0089] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
invention further comprises conditioning cells associated with the
target site to provide target cells having an altered number of
adhesion molecules as compared to corresponding target cells not
subjected to the conditioning, wherein the conditioning increases
the probability of engraftment of the therapeutic cells at the
target site.
[0090] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable
carrier. In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
therapeutic cells are delivered after the cells are
conditioned.
[0091] In a specific embodiment, the present invention provides a
method of enhancing engraftment of a therapeutic cell at a target
site in a mammal comprising delivering a composition comprising the
therapeutic cell and one or more engraftment enhancing agents,
wherein the composition is delivered to the target site using an
intercoronary delivery device. In one specific embodiment of the
present invention, at least one engraftment enhancing agent is
gaseous and provides transient, localized ischemia at the target
site. In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
gaseous engraftment enhancing agent is carbon dioxide.
[0092] In another specific embodiment of the present invention, at
least one engraftment enhancing agent is a viscous agent. In one
specific embodiment of the present invention, the viscous agent is
tocopherol, a lipid emulsion such as an emulsified vegetable oil, a
surfactant, a hydrophilic polymer, or any combination thereof.
[0093] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, at
least one engraftment enhancing agent is a bumping agent.
[0094] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, at
least one engraftment enhancing agent is an activated platelet or a
platelet-derived microparticle. In one specific embodiment of the
present invention, at least one engraftment enhancing agent is a
calcium ionophore, oleic acid, histamine, DSMO, a vasodilator or
any combination thereof. In one specific embodiment of the present
invention, the vasodilator is an ACE inhibitor or a nitrate.
[0095] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, at
least one engraftment enhancing agent is an agent that increases
bumping frequency. In one specific embodiment of the present
invention, the agent to increase the bumping frequency is a
microbubble, a liposome, a lipid vesicle or a vesicle with
membranes formed from di-block or tri-block co-polymers.
[0096] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, at
least one engraftment enhancing agent is a chemokine. In another
specific embodiment of the present invention, the chemokine is
IL-.beta., TNF-.alpha., IL-4, IL-8, SDF-1, MIP-1, MCP-1/2/3/4 or
lymphoactin. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the
chemokine is SDF-1.
[0097] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, at
least one engraftment enhancing agent is a cytokine. In a specific
embodiment of the present invention, the cytokine is a platelet
derived cytokine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF),
oxidized LDL, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1, or stem
cell factor (SCF).
[0098] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, at
least one engraftment enhancing agent is a growth factor. In yet
another specific embodiment of the present invention, at least one
growth factor is VEGF, FGF Insulin Growth Factor (IGF), bFGF,
Hepatocyte Growth Factor, acidic fibroblast growth factor,
fibroblast growth factor-4, fibroblast growth factor-5, epidermal
growth factor, or platelet-derived growth factor.
[0099] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, at
least one engraftment enhancing agent is a magnetically responsive
particle. In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
invention further comprises modifying the target site to include
magnetically responsive particles.
[0100] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
invention further comprises applying an external magnetic field
gradient to the mammal following delivery of the composition. In
one specific embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic
particle is labeled. In one specific embodiment of the present
invention, the magnetic particle has a receptor for CD34, CD133,
CD44, P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1; CD 162),
hematopoietic cell E-/L-selectin ligand (HCELL), E-selectin
ligand-1, Very Late Antigen-4 (VLA-4; CD49d), Leukocyte Function
Associated Antigen-1 (LFA-1), an integrin, such as an .alpha.4
integrin or a .beta.2 integrin, CD31, VE-Cadherin (CD144), VEGF
receptor 2 (KDR), CXCR4, .alpha.4.beta.7, Mac-1, or cutaneous
lymphocyte antigen.
[0101] In another specific embodiment, the invention provides a
method of enhancing engraftment of a therapeutic cell at a target
site in a mammal comprising delivering a composition comprising the
therapeutic cell and one or more engraftment enhancing agents,
wherein the composition is delivered to the target site using an
implantable delivery device, and wherein the one or more
engraftment enhancing agents is biocompatible and provides
transient, localized ischemia at the target site.
[0102] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
biocompatible engraftment enhancing agent is a liposome.
[0103] In one specific embodiment, the present invention provides a
method of enhancing engraftment of a therapeutic cell at a target
site in a mammal comprising delivering a composition comprising the
therapeutic cell and one or more engraftment enhancing agents,
wherein the composition is delivered to the target site using an
implantable delivery device, and wherein the one or more
engraftment enhancing agents is biodegradable and provides
transient, localized ischemia at the target site.
[0104] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
biodegradable engraftment enhancing agent includes a microsphere or
a microbubble. In another embodiment, the microsphere is made of
polycaprolactone, PLGA poly(lactide-co-glycolide), polyester-amide,
polyphosphazine, or tyrosine carbonate.
[0105] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
microsphere is made of alginate crosslinked with divalent Ca, Ba or
Sr cations.
[0106] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
microsphere comprises an extra-cellular matrix protein crosslinked
with glutaraldehyde.
[0107] In one specific embodiment, the present invention provides a
method of enhancing engraftment of a therapeutic cell at a target
site in a mammal comprising subjecting the therapeutic cell to in
vitro conditioning, wherein the conditioning increases the
probability of engraftment of the therapeutic cell at the target
site, and delivering a composition comprising the conditioned
therapeutic cell, wherein the composition is delivered to the
target site using an implantable delivery device.
[0108] In one specific embodiment, the present invention provides a
catheter comprising a catheter body having a dual lumen, a mixing
chamber at a terminus of the catheter body, the mixing chamber
having an outlet, a porous material coupled to a first lumen to
generate bubbles within the mixing chamber, a discharge port
coupled to the second lumen to introduce a cell into the mixing
chamber, and a bypass port to admit blood into the mixing
chamber.
[0109] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
first lumen is configured to receive a gas. In another specific
embodiment of the present invention, also included is a pump
configured to generate the bubbles within the mixing chamber at a
first predetermined time.
[0110] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
catheter includes a pump configured to deliver the cell to the
mixing chamber at a second predetermined time. In another specific
embodiment of the present invention, the porous material includes a
sponge.
[0111] In one specific embodiment, the present invention provides a
method comprising inducing ischemia at a target site for a
transitory period of time, delivering a therapeutic cell and a
viscous agent to the target site, the viscous agent selected to
increase a viscosity of the injection medium of the therapeutic
cell, and restoring normal blood flow to the target site.
[0112] In one specific embodiment of the present invention,
inducing ischemia includes introducing a flow resistor. In one
specific embodiment of the present invention, inducing ischemia
includes delivering an irritant or stimulant to the target
site.
[0113] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
viscous agent includes at least one of microspheres, PEG, vitamin
E, PVA, PVP, dextran, and dextran sulfate.
[0114] In one specific embodiment, the present invention provides a
method of delivering a therapeutic cell to a target site in a
mammal comprising introducing a solution including the therapeutic
cell and an agent, wherein the agent is tailored to enhance
engraftment of the therapeutic cell to the target site, and wherein
the solution is introduced using an implantable catheter.
[0115] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
agent induces transient, localized ischemia at the target site. In
one specific embodiment of the present invention, the agent
includes at least one of a microparticle, a liposome and a CO.sub.2
bubble.
[0116] In one specific embodiment, the present invention provides a
method comprising modifying a target cell to upregulate an adhesion
molecule counter-receptor, subjecting a therapeutic cell to
mechanical conditioning so as to provide an increased number of
adhesion molecules on the cell surface as compared to a
non-conditioned cell, and delivering the therapeutic cell to the
site of the target cell.
[0117] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
modifying includes inducing ischemia.
[0118] In one specific embodiment of the present invention,
inducing ischemia includes introducing a flow resistor in a vessel
coupled to the target site.
[0119] In one specific embodiment of the present invention,
shearing includes agitating with a fluid pump.
[0120] In one specific embodiment, the present invention provides a
method comprising combining a magnetic particle and a therapeutic
cell, applying a static magnetic field to a target site of a
mammal, the static magnetic field having a gradient oriented in a
direction normal to a vessel wall at the target site, and
introducing the therapeutic cell.
[0121] In one specific embodiment, the present invention provides a
method of enhancing engraftment of therapeutic cells at a target
site in a mammal comprising contacting the therapeutic cells with a
biological linker, wherein at the linker is attached to the cell
membrane of a therapeutic cell, and wherein at least one
functionality of the linker molecule has affinity to the surface of
the therapeutic cell, and wherein at least one other functionality
of the linker has affinity to the surface of the lumen surface of
the target area vasculature.
[0122] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
linker is irreversibly attached to the therapeutic cell. In one
specific embodiment of the present invention, the linker is
reversibly attached to the therapeutic cell.
[0123] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
linker is a biological conjugate.
[0124] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
linker is a multifunctional linker. In one specific embodiment of
the present invention, the linker is a bi-functional linker.
[0125] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
linker molecule comprises at least one of an antibody, an antibody
fragment, a peptide, or an affibody.
[0126] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
functionalities may be separated by a spacer. In one specific
embodiment of the present invention, the spacer is a hydrophilic
polymer chain. In one specific embodiment of the present invention,
the spacer is PEG. In one specific embodiment of the present
invention, the spacer has branches or is of star form.
[0127] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the
linker comprises linked antibodies, fragments of antibodies
(F.sub.ab fragments), affibodies, peptides or other molecules with
affinity to receptor molecules on the target surface.
II. Therapeutic Cells of the Invention
A. Sources of Therapeutic Cells for Cell Therapy
[0128] Sources for therapeutic cells in cell-based therapies
include adult, neonatal and embryonic sources. Adult cells may be
derived from various organs, such as skeletal muscle derived cells,
for instance, skeletal muscle cells and skeletal myoblasts; cardiac
derived cells, myocytes, e.g., ventricular myocytes, atrial
myocytes, SA nodal myocytes, AV nodal myocytes; bone marrow-derived
cells or umbilical cord derived cells, e.g., mesenchymal cells and
stromal cells; smooth muscle cells; fibroblasts; or pluripotent
cells or totipotent cells, e.g., teratoma cells, hematopoietic stem
cells, for instance, cells from cord blood and isolated CD34.sup.+
cells, multipotent adult progenitor cells, adult stem cells and
embryonic stem cells. For example, progenitor cells (derived from
bone marrow or circulating blood) are capable of differentiating
into myocytes. Progenitor cells can be used to restore cardiac
function in patients with acute or chronic damage to myocardium.
For example, intracoronary treatment of acute myocardial infarct
patients using progenitor cells has provided improved left
ventricle ejection fraction. In one embodiment, the therapeutic
cells are autologous cells. In another embodiment, the therapeutic
cells include non-autologous cells, such as allogenic cells. In yet
another embodiment, the therapeutic cells include xenogenic cells.
The therapeutic cells can be expanded in vitro to provide an
expanded population of therapeutic cells for administration to a
recipient. In addition, therapeutic cells may be treated in vitro
to induce one or more desirable gene products (transgenes) to the
cells. For example, cells may be genetically modified to express or
release chemokines and/or signal messengers when in situ. For
instance, in one example the transgenic therapeutic cells include a
transgene that enhances cellular engraftment, cellular
proliferation, cellular survival, cellular differentiation and/or
cellular function in the recipient. The transgene may be introduced
to therapeutic cells by any means including but not limited to
liposomes, micelles, polymeric particles, electroporation, naked
DNA, plasmid or viral mediated, for instance, via an adenovirus,
adeno-associated virus, retrovirus or lentivirus vector.
[0129] Sources of therapeutic cells and methods of culturing those
cells are known to the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No.
5,130,141 and Jain et al. (Circulation, 103, 1920 (2001)), wherein
the isolation and expansion of myoblasts from skeletal leg muscle
is discussed (see also Suzuki et al., Circulation, 104, 1-207
(2001), Douz et al., Circulation, 111-210 (2000) and Zimmerman et
al., Circulation Res., 90, 223 (2002)). Published U.S. application
20020110910 discusses the isolation of and media for long term
survival of cardiomyocytes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,779 discusses
isolating myocardial cells from human atria and ventricles and
inducing the proliferation of those myocardial cells. U.S. Pat. No.
5,103,821 discusses isolating and culturing SA node cells. For SA
node cells, the cells may be co-cultured with stem cells or other
undifferentiated cells. U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,318 discusses isolating
and culturing human atrial myocytes. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,090,622 and
6,245,566 discusses preparation of embryonic stem cells, while U.S.
Pat. No. 5,486,359 discusses preparation of mesenchymal cells.
B. Exemplary Methods of Isolating Therapeutic Cells
[0130] 1. Bone Marrow Derived Cells and Umbilical Cord Derived
Cells
[0131] Therapeutic cells derived from bone marrow and umbilical
cord may be prepared by protocols known in the art, for example,
such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,486,359 and 5,811,094,
and in U.S. Patent application publication Nos. 20050008624,
20040136967.
[0132] 2. Therapeutic Myoblasts and Myocytes
[0133] a. Cardiac Tissue
[0134] Cardiomyocytes may be prepared by a modification of
established methods. In particular, primary myocardial cell
isolation is done by modifying established protocols by Nag and
Chen, Tissue Cell, 13, 515 (1981) and Dlugaz et al., J. Cell Biol.,
99, 2268 (1984). Briefly, a heart, e.g., from an organ therapeutic,
is dissected and washed in media. Digestion media includes modified
Jolicks MEM containing 10 mM HEPES, 10 mM pyruvate, 5 mM
L-glutamine, 1 mM nicotinamide, 0.4 mM L-ascorbate, 1 mM adenosine,
1 mm D-ribose, 1 mM MgCl.sub.2, 1 mM taurine, 2 mM DL-carnitine,
and 2 mM KHCO.sub.3. The hearts are minced in digestion media with
0.5 mg/ml collagenase (Worthington) and 100 mM CaCl.sub.2. The
tissue is treated with successive digestions for 15 minutes at
37.degree. C. The cells from the first digestion are discarded and
the next six digestion reactions are pooled. Cells are preplated
for 1 hour to remove fibroblasts, then plated in PC-1
(Ventrex)/DME-Hams F12 media.
[0135] Alternatively, heart muscle is dissected from the left
ventricular free wall and quickly cut into pieces of approximately
1 mm.sup.3 using an array of razor blades. The pieces are incubated
for 12 minutes, while shaking at 37.degree. C. in 25 ml of a
solution containing 1-2 .mu.M calcium (LC) 120 mM NaCl, 5.4 mM KCl,
5 mM, MgSO.sub.4, 5 mM pyruvate, 20 mM glucose, 20 mM taurine, 10
mM HEPES, and 5 mM nitrilotriacetic acid, pH 6.96. The medium is
changed several (about 3) times during the twelve minutes. The
pieces are stirred by bubbling with 100% O.sub.2. After removal of
the LC medium by straining with 300 .mu.m gauze, the pieces are
incubated at 37.degree. C. for 45 minutes in LC without
nitrilotriacetic acid, and 4 U/ml of type XXIV protease and 30
.mu.M calcium added, followed by two 45 minute periods with the
protease omitted and 400 IU/ml collagenase added. The medium is
shaken under an atmosphere of 100% O.sub.2. At the end of the
second and third 45 minute periods, the solution containing the
dispersed cells is filtered through a 300 .mu.m gauze and
centrifuged at 40.times.g for 1-2 minutes.
[0136] Alternatively, primary ventricular myocytes and cardiac
fibroblasts are prepared using a Percoll gradient method as
described by Iwaki et al., J. Biol. Chem., 265, 13809 (1990).
Cardiac fibroblasts are isolated from the upper band of the Percoll
gradient, and subsequently plated in high glucose Dulbecco's
modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum.
Myocytes are isolated from the lower band of the Percoll gradient
and subsequently plated in 4:1 Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium;
199 medium, 10% horse serum and 5% fetal bovine serum.
[0137] After isolation, the cells may be washed in a medium
containing calcium, e.g., 30 .mu.M calcium, and resuspended in
culturing media. Such culture media can comprise DMEM, BSA,
ascorbic acid, taurine, carnitine, creatinine, insulin, penicillin
G sodium, and an antibiotic, e.g., DMEM with the addition of 0.2 g
BSA, 0.1 mM ascorbic acid, 50 mM taurine, 16 mM carnitine, 50 mM
creatine, 0.1 .mu.M insulin, 50 U/ml penicillin G sodium, and 50
mg/ml streptomycin sulfate. Culture media can also comprise DMEM
without calcium chloride anhydrous and D-calcium pantothenate.
[0138] Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown by Kang & Leaf
(Circulation, 94, 1774 (1996)) to protect against calcium overload
and calcium paradox. Therefore, the culture media may also comprise
omega 3 fatty acids, such as, docosaheanoic acid, eicosapentaenoic
acid, eicosatetraynoic acid, or polyunsaturated fatty acid.
[0139] Magnesium (Mg.sup.+) is also known to be protective against
calcium overload and has been shown to be beneficial in failing
human myocardium (Schwinger et al., Am. Heart J., 126, 1018 (1993);
Schwinger et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 263, 1352 (1992)).
Therefore, the culture media may comprise varying concentrations of
Mg.sup.2+, e.g., from 0.1 to 16 mM.
[0140] In one embodiment, cardiomyocytes are obtained from a tissue
sample from a subject, e.g., a vertebrate subject, and successively
exposed to a first solution with decreasing amounts of CaCl.sub.2.
The first solution further includes NaCl, HEPES, MgCl.sub.2, KCl,
and sugar at a pH of approximately 7.4, e.g., 140 mM NaCl, 10 mM
HEPES, 1 mM MgCl.sub.2, 5.4 mM KCl, and 10 mM sugar at a pH of
approximately 7.4. The tissue may be disassociated with an enzyme
solution and repeatedly resuspended in a second solution with
increasing amounts of CaCl.sub.2. The second solution may further
include Earle's modified salt, L-glutamine, sodium bicarbonate,
sodium pentothenate, creatine, taurine, ascorbic acid, HEPES, fetal
bovine serum, an antibiotic, and a fatty acid, at a pH of
approximately 7.4, e.g., sodium bicarbonate at 1250 mg/l, creatine
at 328 mg/500 ml, taurine at 312 mg/500 ml, ascorbic acid at 8.8
mg, HEPES at 2.383 g/500 ml, fetal bovine serum at 10% v/v, an
antibiotic at 5% v/v, and a fatty acid at 1 .mu.M at a pH of
approximately 7.4.
[0141] In yet another embodiment, the second solution can be used
to cultivate isolated cells, e.g., cardiomyocytes, including the
steps of resuspending the isolated cells approximately every 24
hours in the second solution. In still another embodiment, the
second solution can be used as maintenance or culture media for
cells, e.g., cardiomyocytes.
[0142] In another embodiment, cardiomyocytes are obtained from a
tissue sample from a subject, e.g., a vertebrate subject, by
cutting the tissue into smaller pieces and incubating the tissue in
a first solution. The first solution includes calcium, salts,
magnesium sulfate, pyruvate, glucose, taurine, HEPES, and
nitrilotriacetic acid, e.g., 1-2 .mu.M CaCl.sub.2, 120 mM NaCl, 5.4
mM KCl, 5 mM MgSO.sub.4, 5 mM pyruvate, 20 mM glucose, 20 mM
taurine, 10 mM HEPES, and 5 mM nitrilotriacetic acid, at a pH of
approximately 6.96. After the addition of an enzyme, e.g.,
collagenase, to the first solution, the tissue is further incubated
in the solution and later subjected to centrifugation to obtain
isolated cells. After shaking the tissue at 37.degree. C. for 12
minutes, and bubbling 100% O.sub.2 through the solution, the tissue
is incubated in a second solution comprising 1-2 .mu.M CaCl.sub.2,
30 .mu.M NaCl, 5.4 mM KCl, 5 mM MgSO.sub.4, 5 mM pyruvate, 20 mM
glucose, 20 mM taurine, 10 mM HEPES, and 4 U/ml of a digestive
enzyme, and subsequently incubated in a third solution comprising
approximately 1-2 .mu.M, 30 .mu.M NaCl, 5.4 mM KCl, 5 mM
MgSO.sub.4, 5 mM pyruvate, 20 mM glucose, 20 mM taurine, 10 mM
HEPES, and 4 U/ml of a digestive enzyme. Preferably, 400 U/ml of a
digestive enzyme, e.g., a type XXIV protease, such as matrix
metalloproteinase 2 or 4, and a collagenase, for example, matrix
metalloproteinase 1, 3, or 9, is added to the third solution and
the tissue subjected to centrifugation to obtain isolated
cells.
[0143] Other solutions to enhance the yield and long-term survival
rate of isolated cardiomyocytes include those in published U.S.
application 20020110910.
[0144] b. Neonatal Skeletal Tissue
[0145] To harvest cells from neonatal tissue, muscle tissue is
harvested from a limb and placed in a culture dish (65 mm diameter)
with 8 ml of calcium-free PBS. Muscles are removed under sterile
conditions. All harvested tissue is transferred to a 50 ml conical
tube containing 12 ml of tissue dissociation solution (TDS) (DMEM
with 5% by weight dispase and 0.5% by weight collagenase IV) and
stirred for approximately one hour in order to dissociate the
tissue. The tube is then centrifuged at 1200.times.g for
approximately 15 minutes. After removal of the supernatant, cells
are resuspended in 20 ml of Ham's F12 with 20 mg of collagenase
type IV and incubated at 37.degree. C. for one hour to allow tissue
dissociation. The tube is again centrifuged at 1200 g for 15
minutes, after which the supernatant is removed and the cells are
resuspended in growth media (GM) (400 ml F12, 100 ml FBS and 100
U/ml penicillin G). Within this cell suspension will likely be
fibroblasts in addition to myogenic precursor cells.
[0146] c. Adult Skeletal Tissue
[0147] Skeletal muscle may also be harvested from adult tissue and
cut into strips. Unlike neonatal tissue, muscle tissue from adult
or aged animals yields more satellite cells if initially
preincubated before complete tissue dissociation. The increased
activation of satellite cells may result from the use of NaN.sub.3
in the preincubation media (PI) (90 ml DM and 10 ml 0.05% NaN.sub.3
in 0.9% saline, where DM is 465 ml DMEM, 35 ml horse serum and 100
U/ml penicillin G).
[0148] To preincubate the muscle tissue, the strips are pinned in a
SYLGARD.TM. coated culture dish (35 mm diameter), covered with 2.5
ml of PI, and sterilized by exposure to ultraviolet light for
approximately 40 minutes. The dishes are then maintained at
37.degree. C. in a water-saturated atmosphere containing 5%
CO.sub.2 for 24 to 72 hours, where optimal pre-incubation times may
vary for different muscles.
[0149] After pre-incubation, each muscle strip is placed into a 50
ml conical tube with 15 ml TDS solution and incubated in a shaker
bath at 37.degree. C. for approximately 3 hours until complete
dissociation is observed. Immediately upon complete tissue
dissociation, the tubes are centrifuged at 1200 g for 15 minutes.
Subsequently, the supernatant is aspirated and cells are
reconstituted with 5 ml GM. As with the cells derived from neonatal
tissue, fibroblasts may be included in the cell suspension.
[0150] Alternatively, myogenic cells are released from skeletal
muscle fragments by serial enzyme treatments. A one hour digestion
with 600 U/ml collagenase (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo., USA), is followed
by a 30 minute incubation in Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS)
containing 0.1% w/v trypsin (Gibco Lab, Grand Island, N.Y., USA).
Satellite cells are placed in 75 cm.sup.2 culture flasks (Coster,
Cambridge, Mass., USA) in proliferation medium, e.g., 199 medium
(Gibco Lab.) with 15% fetal bovine serum (Gibco), 1% penicillin
(10,000 U/ml) and 1% streptomycin (10,000 U/ml).
[0151] In particular, for human myoblasts, these cells are grown
from therapeutic human muscle and passaged cells are seeded at
2-3,000 cells per well in a 96 well cluster plate in Ham F12 medium
containing 7.5% up to 20% v/v FCS. The medium may contain varying
concentrations of LIF. Cell numbers are counted at times up to 12
days. There is a marked stimulation of proliferation of myoblasts
by LIF, e.g., at 30 U/ml. FGF and HBGF also stimulate growth of
satellite cells (DiMario et al., Differentiation, 39, 42 (1988)).
TGF-.alpha. also stimulates human cells at concentrations ranging
up to 10 ng/ml.
[0152] In one embodiment, to expand skeletal muscle cells, skeletal
muscle cells are cultured with isolated PDGF, TGF-beta, and/or FGF,
e.g., at 5-10 ng/ml.
[0153] d. Non-Muscle Therapeutic Cells
[0154] Methods to isolate and/or culture non-muscle therapeutic
cells, and methods to induce a muscle cell-specific phenotype to
those cells, i.e., differentiation, are known to the art. For
instance, mesenchymal stem cells may be obtained by culturing
adherent marrow or periosteal cells.
[0155] To induce a cardiac cell-specific phenotype, MSCs cells may
be cocultured with fetal, neonatal or adult cardiac cells
optionally in the presence of fusigens, extracts of mammalian
hearts, one or more growth factors, one or more differentiating
agents, or subjected to mechanical or electrical stimulation.
[0156] Bone marrow is a source for therapeutic cells that have the
potential to differentiate into cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells,
in the case of endothelial progenitor cells, and smooth muscle
cells (see, for example, Yoon et al., J. Clin. Invest., 115:326-338
(2005)). To obtain bone marrow cells, a bone marrow puncture is
conducted by sternal or iliac puncture. After skin disinfection of
the part for puncture, a therapeutic is subjected to local
anesthesia. Particularly, subpeiosteum is thoroughly anesthetized.
The inner tube of a bone marrow puncture needle is pulled out and a
10 ml syringe containing 5000 U of heparin is attached to the
needle. Normally 10-20 ml of the bone marrow fluid is quickly taken
by suction and the puncture needle is removed, followed by pressure
hemostasis for about 10 minutes. The obtained bone marrow fluid is
centrifuged at 1000.times.g to recover bone marrow cells, which are
then washed with PBS (phosphate buffered saline). After this
centrifugation step is repeated twice, the obtained bone marrow
cells are suspended in a cell culture medium such as A-MEM
(a-modification of MEM), DMEM (Dulbecco's modified MEM) or IMDM
(Isocove's modified Dulbeccos's medium) each containing 10% FBS
(fetal bovine serum) to prepare a bone marrow cell suspension.
[0157] For the isolation of the bone marrow cells having the
potential to differentiate into cardiomyocytes from the obtained
bone marrow cell suspension, any method can be employed, so long as
it is effective at removing other cells existing in the cell
suspension such as hematocytes, hematopoietic stem cells, vascular
stem cells and fibroblasts. For example, based on the method
described in Pittenger et al., Science, 284, 143 (1999), the
desired cells can be isolated by subjecting the cell suspension
layered over Percoll having the density of 1.073 g/ml to
centrifugation at 1100.times.g for 30 minutes, and the cells on the
interface are recovered. Furthermore, a bone marrow cell mixture
containing the cells having the potential to differentiate into
cardiomyocytes can be obtained by mixing the above cell suspension
with an equal amount of Percoll solution diluted to 9/10 with
10.times.PBS, followed by centrifugation at 20000.times.g for 30
minutes, and recovering the fraction having the density of
1.075-1.060. A bone marrow cell mixture is diluted into single cell
using 96-well culture plates to prepare a number of clones
respectively derived from single cells. The clones having the
potential to differentiate into cardiomyocyte can be selected by
the observation of spontaneously beating cells generated by the
treatment.
[0158] For the isolation of the bone marrow cells having the
potential to differentiate into endothelial cells from the obtained
bone marrow cell suspension, the method described by Asahara et
al., Science, 275: 964-967 (1997) or Asahara et al., Circulation
Research, 85:221-228 (1999)) might be employed.
[0159] Umbilical blood is another source for therapeutic cells. To
prepare those cells, umbilical blood is separated from the cord,
followed by addition of heparin to give a final concentration of
500 U/ml. After thoroughly mixing, cells are separated from the
umbilical blood by centrifugation and resuspended in a cell culture
medium, such as .alpha.-MEM, DMEM or IMDM, each containing 10% FBS.
From the cell suspension thus obtained, cells having the potential
to differentiate into cardiomyocytes can be separated using, for
example, antibodies.
[0160] Fibroblasts are also a source for therapeutic cells.
[0161] CD34.sup.+ cells may be obtained from a population of other
cells, e.g., from blood cells when CD34.sup.+ cells are isolated
from blood or cord blood, by cell labeling with magnetic antibodies
and subsequent cell separation in a magnetic field. For example,
cells may be separated by using a commercially available cell
selection system, such as CliniMACS.RTM. (Miltenyi Biotec
GmbH).
C. Conditioning Therapeutic Cells to Enhance Engraftment at Target
Site
[0162] As disclosed herein, the surface of therapeutic cells, e.g.,
stem cells, may be modified to increase the probability or strength
of attachment to the lumen surface of the target area (e.g.,
endothelium). A variety of exogenous stimuli ("conditioning") may
be employed in the methods to enhance engraftment, increase the
probability or strength of attachment of the therapeutic cells to
the target site. For instance, therapeutic cells may be treated in
vitro or in vivo by subjecting them to mechanical conditioning,
biological conditioning, chemical conditioning, or any combination
thereof. The conditioning may include continuous or intermittent
exposure to the exogenous stimuli. Exogenous agents include those
that enhance the attachment, engraftment, survival,
differentiation, proliferation and/or function of therapeutic
cells, e.g., stem cells, after transplant to the luminal surface of
the target area, e.g., endothelium. For example, the surface of a
therapeutic cell can be modified in such a way that the surface
density of available adhesion molecules is altered, e.g.,
increased, wherein the adhesion molecule possesses an affinity to
the luminal surface of the target area vasculature, e.g., to a
corresponding adhesion molecule present on or associated with the
cell surface of an endothelial cell or molecular moieties thereon.
In one example, adhesion molecules have an affinity to the luminal
surface of the target vasculature and are antibodies to receptor
molecules present on the surface of the endothelial cells (for
example, anti-CD31 or anti-ICAM). Examples of such conditioning are
disclosed herein. In another example, platelet factor 4 (PF4) is
used to upregulate the expression of CD(49d) and CXCR4 on
therapeutic cells, which affects cell adhesion and enhance
engraftment at a target site. Lu et al., Zhonghua Xue Ye Xue Za
Zhi, 24: 467-469 (2003).
[0163] 1. Mechanical Conditioning
[0164] As disclosed herein, therapeutic cells may be influenced in
a manner similar to other cell types such as endothelial cells and
lymphocytes to improve cell engraftment levels.
[0165] As used herein, the phrase "mechanical conditioning" refers
to a mechanical process that results in the alteration of surface
density, gene expression, protein synthesis, and/or the activity of
one or more adhesion molecules on the therapeutic cells. For
example, exposure of endothelial progenitor cells to shear stress
increases the expression of vascular endothelial cadherin. Yamamoto
et al., J. Appl. Physiol., 95: 2081-2088 (2003). See also Peled et
al., J. Clin. Invest., 104: 1199-1211 (1999) and Rood et al., Exp.
Hematol., 27: 1306-1314 (1999). Thus, in one embodiment, the
mechanical conditioning of the therapeutic cells, e.g., stem cells,
results in the expression and/or upregulation of the expression of
adhesion molecules that facilitate the retention of the therapeutic
cells to the vascular endothelium.
[0166] In one embodiment, the mechanical conditioning of
therapeutic cells results in the enhanced engraftment of the
therapeutic cells at the target site. For example, therapeutic
cells, such as stem cells, may be exposed to controlled shear rates
through a shear module consisting of the pre-determined length of
tubing connected to a controlled flow rate pump. Exposing
therapeutic cells to any positive shear stress, for example, in the
range of about 5 dynes/cm.sup.2 up to about 100 dynes/cm.sup.2, may
be useful to upregulate expression of an adhesion molecule. In
addition to shearing cells before delivery, saline fluid can be
used to mechanically condition the therapeutic cells.
[0167] Views of an exemplary shear module are illustrated FIGS. 1A,
1B and 1C. For example, FIG. 1A illustrates shear module 100 having
pump 110, flow cartridge 130 and collection syringe 140. Pump 110
is illustrated as a syringe pump, however other types of pumps are
also contemplated including, for example, vane pumps, diaphragm
pumps and gear pumps. Pump 110 delivers cell suspension 120 to flow
cartridge 130 in a controlled manner. Discharge from flow cartridge
130 is received by collection syringe 140. Syringe 140 can be
coupled, for example, to stem cell delivery apparatus (not shown).
Collection syringe 140, for example, can be a syringe having a
volume of between 1 and 10 cc.
[0168] FIG. 1B illustrates a cut-away view of flow cartridge 130.
Flow cartridge 130 receives cell suspension 120 at input port 131
and discharges cell suspension at output port 133. A plurality of
channels, each marked 132, serve to control fluid flow through flow
cartridge 130. FIG. 1C illustrates a cross-sectional view of flow
cartridge 130 having a plurality of circular channels 132 disposed
about the interior. Cell suspension 120 entering at port 131 is
sheared by the flow process through channels 132. Each of channel
132, in one example, includes a plastic tube having a diameter of
between 100 and 500 microns. An exemplary material for channel 132
includes polystyrene. Dimensions and materials other than those
described herein are also contemplated.
[0169] Expression profiles of adhesion molecules can also be
manipulated by the magnitude and type of shear stress, i.e.,
laminar v. turbulent, and time of exposure to the shear stress. Any
mechanism that induces shear stress might be utilized in the
mechanical conditioning of the therapeutic cells.
[0170] In one example, the present subject matter provides methods
and systems for modifying the cells ex vivo (prior to delivery at
the site), such as in a catheter laboratory to improve cell
engraftment.
[0171] 2. Biological Conditioning
[0172] In addition to mechanical conditioning, therapeutic cells
can be subjected to biological conditioning to enhance the
engraftment at a target site. For example, brief periods of
incubation (e.g., 4-6 hours) of therapeutic cells with chemokines
such as Il-1beta, TNF-alpha and IL-4 induces upregulation of
E-selectin, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on endothelial cells (Konstantopoulos
et al., Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 33:141-164 (1998)). Cells
can be contacted with chemokines for a determined period of time
(e.g., about 1 hour to about 24 hours), washed to remove the
residual chemokines, and then infused into the patient. Other
biological conditioning agents include, but are not limited to,
PR39, HIF 1 alpha, HIF 2 alpha, Insulin Growth Factor (IGF), VEGF,
bFGF, Hepatocyte Growth Factor, eNOS enhancers, P38 inhibitors,
statins and S1P agonists.
[0173] In addition, biological conditioning includes subjecting
therapeutic cells to exogenous agents, such as biological
conjugates, linkers, as well as to expression cassettes
(transgenes) encoding a gene product including, but not limited to,
an adhesion molecule.
[0174] In another embodiment, therapeutic cells are subjected to
periods of hypoxia to upregulate adhesion molecules. For example,
cells may be incubated in a portable hypoxic chamber for periods of
time, for example, 30 minutes to 24 hours, before delivery into the
patient.
[0175] a. Biological Conjugates and Linkers
[0176] The modification of proteins by labeling with reporter
molecules is known in the art. Therapeutic cells can be contacted
with biological linkers, such as biologically active entities
irreversibly attached to the therapeutic cell (see for example,
Krantz, Blood Cells, Molecules and Diseases, 23:58-68 (1997) and/or
biological conjugates, such as bifunctional antibody constructs.
Alternatively, biological linkers may be attached through a
reversible bond where the time scale of dissociation is
sufficiently long to mediate adhesion between therapeutic and
target cells.
[0177] In one embodiment, the biological conjugate includes but is
not limited to a bi- or multifunctional linker. For example, bi- or
multifunctional linker molecules may be attached to the cell
membrane of a therapeutic cell, where at least one functionality of
the linker molecule has affinity to the surface of the therapeutic
cell, and at least one other functionality has affinity to the
surface of the lumen surface of the target area vasculature, e.g.,
endothelial cell surface, as illustrated in FIGS. 1D and 1E. FIG.
1D illustrates surface modification of therapeutic cells using
bifunctional linker molecules. In the figure, the linker molecule
includes anti-E and anti-T. FIG. 1E illustrates a therapeutic cell
attached to an endothelial cell of the target vasculature. To
enhance accessibility, the functionalities may be separated by a
spacer, such as a hydrophilic polymer chain, e.g., PEG. For
multifunctional linkers, the spacer may have branches or be of star
form. For example, the surface of the therapeutic cell may be
modified by a molecule consisting of two linked antibodies, where
one antibody has affinity to a surface receptor (such as an
adhesion molecule) on the therapeutic cell and where the other
antibody has affinity to an endothelial surface receptor (such as
an adhesion molecule). Instead of antibodies, fragments of
antibodies (F.sub.ab fragments), affibodies (a library of proteins
with a variable region with recognition capabilities similar to
antibodies; as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,831,012, 6,534,628 and
6,740,734), peptides or other molecules with affinity to receptor
molecules on the respective target surface may be used.
[0178] In one embodiment of the invention, the expression of
therapeutic cells' adhesion molecules such as receptors CD34, CD133
and/or KDR, e.g., stem cells, may be altered, e.g., increased, in
order to manipulate the adhesion of the therapeutic cells to target
cells. For example, a CD133-antibody linked via a PEG spacer to a
CD31-antibody may be used to modify the surface of a therapeutic
cell, e.g., a stem cell. In this case, the CD133 antibody has
affinity to the CD133 receptor present at the surface of the stem
cell, while the CD31 antibody has affinity to the endothelial cell
surface present on the lumen wall of the target vasculature. To
modify the surface of the stem cell, the cells are incubated with a
bifunctional anti-CD133-PEG-anti-CD31 molecule. As the anti-CD133
moiety attaches to the CD133 receptor, the stem cell surface will
effectively present anti-CD31 antibodies with affinity to the
surface of the endothelial cell found in the target vasculature.
Examples of other receptor targets present on endothelial cells of
microvasculature include, but are not limited to, PECAM (CD31),
vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion
molecule (ICAM)-1, a selectin such as P-Selectin (CD62P),
E-Selectin (CD62E), L-selectin, and Flk-1, which also may be
modified through bifunctional antibody construct technology. In one
embodiment, the linker is an anti-CD31 or anti-ICAM antibody
attached to the therapeutic cell.
[0179] b. Genetic Modification
[0180] i. Transgenes
[0181] In one embodiment, a transgene is introduced into a
therapeutic cell. The transgene encodes a gene product including
but not limited to an adhesion molecule with an affinity for the
luminal surface of the target vasculature. Adhesion molecules
include, for example, CD44, P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1
(PSGL-1; CD 162), hematopoietic cell E-/L-selectin ligand (HCELL),
E-selectin ligand-1, Very Late Antigen-4 (VLA-4; CD49d), Leukocyte
Function Associated Antigen-1 (LFA-1), an integrin, such as an
.alpha.4 integrin or a .beta.2 integrin, CD31, VE-Cadherin (CD144),
PECAM (CD31), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1),
intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, a selectin such as
P-Selectin (CD62P), E-Selectin (CD62E), L-selectin,
.alpha.4.beta.7, Mac-1, cutaneous lymphocyte antigen, CD34, CD133,
VEGF receptor 1 (flt-1/flk-2), VEGF receptor 2 (flk-1/KDR), and
CXCR4. The upregulation of one subset of these molecules enhances
adhesion of therapeutic cells to cells associated with a target
site, for example, endothelial cells, by directly increasing the
surface concentration of adhesion sites, while another subset of
these adhesion molecules may require additional modification, as
described herein, to enhance cell engraftment.
[0182] For purposes of the present subject matter, control
elements, such as promoters, enhancers and the like, will be of
particular use. Such control elements include, for example, a
cytomegalovirus promoter and variants thereof (commercially
available from Clontech or Genetherapy Systems).
[0183] A transgenic therapeutic cell includes a transgene that
enhances the engraftment, proliferation, survival, differentiation
and/or function of the therapeutic cells and/or decreases, replaces
or supplements (increases) the expression of endogenous genes in
the therapeutic cells. In one embodiment, the expression of the
transgene is controlled by a regulatable or tissue-specific, e.g.,
cardiomyocyte-specific promoter. Optionally, a combination of
vectors each with a different transgene can be employed.
[0184] (a) Exemplary Genes for Delivery
[0185] Exemplary genes for delivery to a therapeutic cell include
those genes that express adhesion molecules, as discussed
herein.
[0186] (b) Delivery of Transgenes to Therapeutic Cells
[0187] Delivery of exogenous transgenes to a therapeutic cell may
be accomplished by any means, e.g., transfection with naked DNA,
e.g., a vector comprising the transgene, liposomes, association
with polycations, calcium-mediated transformation, electroporation,
or transduction, e.g., using recombinant viruses. A number of
transfection techniques are generally known in the art. See, e.g.,
Graham et al., Virology, 52, 456 (1973), Sambrook et al., Molecular
Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories, New
York (1989), Davis et al., Basic Methods in Molecular Biology,
Elsevier (1986) and Chu et al., Gene, 13, 197 (1981). Particularly
suitable transfection methods include calcium phosphate
co-precipitation (Graham et al., Virol., 52, 456 (1973)), direct
microinjection into cultured cells (Capecchi, Cell, 22, 479
(1980)), electroporation (Shigekawa et al., BioTechniques, 6, 742
(1988)), liposome-mediated gene transfer (Mannino et al.,
BioTechniques, 6, 682 (1988)), lipid-mediated transduction (Feigner
et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 84, 7413 (1987)), and nucleic
acid delivery using high-velocity microprojectiles (Klein et al.,
Nature, 327, 70 (1987)).
[0188] An expression cassette optionally includes at least one
control element such as a promoter, for example, a commercially
available cytomegalovirus promoter, variants thereof, or optionally
a regulatable promoter, e.g., one which is inducible or
repressible, an enhancer, or a transcription termination sequence.
In certain embodiments, the promoter and/or enhancer is one which
is cell- or tissue-specific, e.g., cardiac cell-specific. For
instance, the enhancer may be a muscle creatine kinase (mck)
enhancer, and the promoter may be an alpha-myosin heavy chain
(MyHC) or beta-MyHC promoter (see Palermo et al., Circ. Res., 78,
504 (1996)).
[0189] In one embodiment, vectors are used to deliver exogenous
transgenes to therapeutic cells. Vectors include, for example,
viral vectors, liposomes and other lipid-containing complexes, and
other macromolecular complexes capable of mediating delivery of a
gene to a host cell. Vectors can also comprise other components or
functionalities that further modulate gene delivery and/or gene
expression, or that otherwise provide beneficial properties to the
targeted cells. Such other components include, for example,
components that influence binding or targeting to cells (including
components that mediate cell-type or tissue-specific binding);
components that influence uptake of the vector by the cell;
components that influence localization of the transferred gene
within the cell after uptake (such as agents mediating nuclear
localization); and components that influence expression of the
gene. Such components also might include markers, such as
detectable and/or selectable markers that can be used to detect or
select for cells that have taken up and are expressing the nucleic
acid delivered by the vector. Such components can be provided as a
natural feature of the vector (such as the use of certain viral
vectors that have components or functionalities mediating binding
and uptake), or vectors can be modified to provide such
functionalities. Selectable markers can be positive, negative or
bifunctional. Positive selectable markers allow selection for cells
carrying the marker, whereas negative selectable markers allow
cells carrying the marker to be selectively eliminated. A variety
of such marker genes have been described, including bifunctional
(i.e., positive/negative) markers (see e.g., WO 92/08796; and WO
94/28143). Such marker genes can provide an added measure of
control that can be advantageous in gene therapy contexts. A large
variety of such vectors are known in the art and are generally
available.
[0190] Vectors include, but are not limited to, isolated nucleic
acid, e.g., plasmid-based vectors which may be extrachromosomally
maintained and viral vectors, e.g., recombinant adenovirus,
retrovirus, lentivirus, herpesvirus, including cytomegalovirus,
poxvirus, papilloma virus, or adeno-associated virus (AAV),
including viral and non-viral vectors which are present in
liposomes, e.g., neutral or cationic liposomes, such as DOSPA/DOPE,
DOGS/DOPE or DMRIE/DOPE liposomes, and/or associated with other
molecules such as DNA-anti-DNA antibody-cationic lipid (DOTMA/DOPE)
complexes. Exemplary viral vectors are described below.
[0191] Vectors are administered via intracoronary administration as
described herein, and transfer to cells may be enhanced using
electroporation and/or ionophoresis.
[0192] Retroviral Vectors
[0193] Retroviral vectors exhibit several distinctive features
including their ability to stably and precisely integrate into the
host genome providing long-term transgene expression. These vectors
can be manipulated ex vivo to eliminate infectious gene particles
to minimize the risk of systemic infection and patient-to-patient
transmission. Pseudotyped retroviral vectors can alter host cell
tropism.
[0194] Lentiviruses
[0195] Lentiviruses are derived from a family of retroviruses that
include human immunodeficiency virus and feline immunodeficiency
virus. However, unlike retroviruses that only infect dividing
cells, lentiviruses can infect both dividing and nondividing cells.
For instance, lentiviral vectors based on human immunodeficiency
virus genome are capable of efficient transduction of cardiac
myocytes in vivo. Although lentiviruses have specific tropisms,
pseudotyping the viral envelope with vesicular stomatitis virus
yields virus with a broader range (Schnepp et al., Meth. Mol. Med.,
69:427 (2002)).
[0196] Adenoviral Vectors
[0197] Adenoviral vectors may be rendered replication-incompetent
by deleting the early (E1A and E1B) genes responsible for viral
gene expression from the genome and are stably maintained into the
host cells in an extrachromosomal form. These vectors have the
ability to transfect both replicating and nonreplicating cells and,
in particular, these vectors have been shown to efficiently infect
cardiac myocytes in vivo, e.g., after direction injection or
perfusion. Adenoviral vectors have been shown to result in
transient expression of therapeutic genes in vivo, peaking at 7
days and lasting approximately 4 weeks. The duration of transgene
expression may be improved in systems utilizing cardiac specific
promoters. In addition, adenoviral vectors can be produced at very
high titers, allowing efficient gene transfer with small volumes of
virus.
[0198] Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors
[0199] Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAV) are derived from
nonpathogenic parvoviruses, evoke essentially no cellular immune
response, and produce transgene expression lasting months in most
systems. Moreover, like adenovirus, adeno-associated virus vectors
also have the capability to infect replicating and nonreplicating
cells and are believed to be nonpathogenic to humans. Moreover,
they appear promising for sustained cardiac gene transfer
(Hoshijima et al., Nat. Med., 8:864 (2002); Lynch et al., Circ.
Res., 80:197 (1997)).
[0200] In one embodiment, recombinant AAV (rAAV) is employed to
deliver a transgene to therapeutic cells. Differentiation is
induced by placing subconfluent therapeutic cells in DMEM
containing 2% horse serum and standard concentrations of glutamine
and penicillin-streptomycin for an interval of four days prior to
transduction.
[0201] Herpesvirus/Amplicon
[0202] Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) has a number of important
characteristics that make it an important gene delivery vector in
vivo. There are two types of HSV-1-based vectors: 1) those produced
by inserting the exogenous genes into a backbone virus genome, and
2) HSV amplicon virions that are produced by inserting the
exogenous gene into an amplicon plasmid that is subsequently
replicated and then packaged into virion particles. HSV-1 can
infect a wide variety of cells, both dividing and nondividing, but
has obviously strong tropism towards nerve cells. It has a very
large genome size and can accommodate very large transgenes (>35
kb). Herpesvirus vectors are particularly useful for delivery of
large genes, e.g., genes encoding ryanodine receptors and
titin.
[0203] Plasmid DNA Vectors
[0204] Plasmid DNA is often referred to as "naked DNA" to indicate
the absence of a more elaborate packaging system. Direct injection
of plasmid DNA to myocardial cells in vivo has been accomplished.
Plasmid-based vectors are relatively nonimmunogenic and
nonpathogenic, with the potential to stably integrate in the
cellular genome, resulting in long-term gene expression in
postmitotic cells in vivo. For example, expression of secreted
angiogenesis factors after muscle injection of plasmid DNA, despite
relatively low levels of focal transgene expression, has
demonstrated significant biologic effects in animal models and
appears promising clinically (Isner, Nature, 415:234 (2002)).
Furthermore, plasmid DNA is rapidly degraded in the blood stream;
therefore, the change of transgene expression in distant organ
systems in negligible. Plasmid DNA may be delivered to cells as
part of a macromolecular complex, e.g., a liposome, polymer, e.g.,
cationic polymer, or DNA-protein complex, and delivery may be
enhanced using techniques including electroporation.
[0205] Regulatable Transcriptional Control Elements
[0206] A variety of strategies have been devised to control in vivo
expression of transferred genes and thus alter the pharmacokinetics
of in vivo gene transfer vectors in the context of regulatable or
inducible promoters. Many of these regulatable promoters use
exogenously administered agents to control transgene expression and
some use the physiologic milieu to control gene expression.
Examples of the exogenous control promoters include the
tetracycline-responsive promoter, a chimeric transactivator
consisting of the DNA and tetracycline-binding domains from the
bacterial tet repressor fused to the transactivation domain of
herpes simplex virion protein 16 (Ho et al., Brain Res. Mol. Brain.
Res., 41:200 (1996)); a chimeric promoter with multiple cyclic
adenosine monophosphate response elements superimposed on a minimal
fragment of the 5'-flanking region of the cystic fibrosis
transmembrane conductance regulator gene (Suzuki et al., 7:1883
(1996)); the EGR1 radiation-inducible promoter (Hallahan et al.,
Nat. Med., 1:786 (1995)); and the chimeric GRE promoter (Lee et
al., J. Thoracic Cardio. Surg., 118:26 (1996)), with 5 GREs from
the rat tyrosine aminotransferase gene in tandem with the insertion
of Ad2 major late promoter TATA box-initiation site (Narumi et al.,
Blood, 92:812 (1998)). Examples of the physiologic control of
promoters include a chimera of the thymidine kinase promoter and
the thyroid hormone and retinoic acid-responsive element responsive
to both exogenous and endogenous tri-iodothyroniine (Hayashi et
al., J. Biol. Chem., 269:23872 (1994)); complement factor 3 and
serum amyloid A3 promoters responsive to inflammatory stimuli; the
grp78 and BiP stress-inducible promoter, a glucose-regulated
protein that is inducible through glucose deprivation, chronic
anoxia, and acidic pH (Gazit et al., Cancer Res., 55:1660 (1995));
and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 and a heterodimeric basic
helix-loop-helix protein that activates transcription of the human
erythropoietin gene in hypoxic cells, which has been shown to act
as a regulatable promoter in the context of gene therapy in vivo
(Forsythe et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 16:4604 (1996)).
[0207] Regulatable transcriptional elements include, but are not
limited to, a truncated ligand binding domain of a progesterin
receptor (controlled by antiprogestin), a tet promoter (controlled
by tet and dox) (Dhawan et al., Somat. Cell. Mol. Genet., 21: 233
(1995); Gossen et al., Science, 268: 1766 (1995); Gossen et al.,
Science, 89: 5547 (1992); Shockett et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
USA, 92, 6522 (1995)), hypoxia-inducible nuclear factors (Semenza
et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88, 5680 (1991); Semenza et
al., J. Biol. Chem., 269, 23757)), steroid-inducible elements and
promoters, such as the glucocorticoid response element (GRE) (Mader
and White, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90, 5603 (1993)), and the
fusion consensus element for RU486 induction (Wang et al., Proc.
Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 91:818 (1994)), those sensitive to
electromagnetic fields, e.g., those present in metallothionein I or
II, c-myc, and HSP70 promoters (Lin et al., J. Cell. Biochem., 81:
143 (2001); Lin et al., J. Cell. Biochem., 54: 281 (1994); U.S.
published application 20020099026)), and electric pulses
(Rubenstrunk et al., J. Gene Med., 5:773 (2003)), as well as a
yeast GAL4/TATA promoter, auxin inducible element, an ecdysone
responsive element (No et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93:3346
(1996)), an element inducible by rapamycin (FK 506) or an analog
thereof (Rivera et al., Nat. Med., 2:1028 (1996); Ye et al.,
Science, 283:88 (1999); Rivera et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA,
96:8657 (1999)), a tat responsive element, a metal, e.g., zinc,
inducible element, a radiation inducible element, e.g., ionizing
radiation has been used as the inducer of the promoter of the early
growth response gene (Erg-1) Hallahan et al., Nat. Med., 1:786
(1995)), an element which binds nuclear receptor PPAR.gamma.
(peroxisome proliferators activated receptors), which is composed
of a minimal promoter fused to PPRE (PPAR responsive elements, see
WO 00/78986), a cytochrome P450/A1 promoter, a MDR-1 promoter, a
promoter induced by specific cytokines (Varley et al., Nat.
Biotech., 15:1002 (1997)), a light inducible element (Shimizu-Sato
et al., Nat. Biotech., 20:1041 (2002)), a lacZ promoter, and a
yeast Leu3 promoter.
[0208] In some embodiments, cell- or tissue-specific control
elements, such as muscle-specific and inducible promoters,
enhancers and the like, will be of particular use, e.g., in
conjunction with regulatable transcriptional control elements. Such
control elements include, but are not limited to, those derived
from the actin and myosin gene families, such as from the myoD gene
family (Weintraub et al., Science, 251, 761 (1991)); the
myocyte-specific enhancer binding factor MEF-2 (Cserjesi and Olson,
Mol. Cell. Biol., 11, 4854 (1991)); control elements derived from
the human skeletal actin gene (Muscat et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 7,
4089 (1987)) and the cardiac actin gene; muscle creatine kinase
sequence elements (Johnson et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 9, 3393
(1989)) and the murine creatine kinase enhancer (mCK) element;
control elements derived from the skeletal fast-twitch troponin C
gene, the slow-twitch cardiac troponin C gene and the slow-twitch
troponin I genes.
[0209] Cardiac cell restricted promoters include but are not
limited to promoters from the following genes: a .alpha.-myosin
heavy chain gene, e.g., a ventricular .alpha.-myosin heavy chain
gene, .beta.-myosin heavy chain gene, e.g., a ventricular
.beta.-myosin heavy chain gene, myosin light chain 2v gene, e.g., a
ventricular myosin light chain 2 gene, myosin light chain 2a gene,
e.g., a ventricular myosin light chain 2 gene,
cardiomyocyte-restricted cardiac ankyrin repeat protein (CARP)
gene, cardiac .alpha.-actin gene, cardiac m2 muscarinic
acteylcholine gene, ANP gene, BNP gene, cardiac troponin C gene,
cardiac troponin I gene, cardiac troponin T gene, cardiac
sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase gene, skeletal .alpha.-actin gene,
as well as an artificial cardiac cell-specific promoter.
[0210] Further, chamber-specific promoters or enhancers may also be
employed, e.g., for atrial-specific expression, the quail slow
myosin chain type 3 (MyHC3) or ANP promoter, or the cGATA-6
enhancer, may be employed. For ventricle-specific expression, the
iroquois homeobox gene may be employed. Examples of ventricular
myocyte-specific promoters include a ventricular myosin light chain
2 promoter and a ventricular myosin heavy chain promoter.
[0211] In other embodiments, disease-specific control elements may
be employed. Thus, control elements from genes associated with a
particular disease, including but not limited to any of the genes
disclosed herein may be employed.
[0212] Nevertheless, other promoters and/or enhancers which are not
specific for cardiac cells or muscle cells, e.g., RSV promoter, may
be employed. Other sources for promoters and/or enhancers are
promoters and enhancers from the Csx/NKX 2.5 gene, titin gene,
.alpha.-actinin gene, myomesin gene, M protein gene, cardiac
troponin T gene, RyR2 gene, Cx40 gene, and Cx43 gene, as well as
genes which bind Mef2, dHAND, GATA, CarG, E-box, Csx/NKX 2.5, or
TGF-beta, or a combination thereof.
[0213] Targeted Vectors
[0214] The present subject matter contemplates the use of cell
targeting not only by delivery of the transgene or therapeutic cell
into the coronary artery, for example, but also by use of targeted
vector constructs having features that tend to target gene delivery
and/or gene expression to a particular host cells or host cell
types (such as the myocardium). Such targeted vector constructs
would thus include targeted delivery vectors and/or targeted
vectors, as described herein. Restricting delivery and/or
expression can be beneficial as a means of further focusing the
potential effects of gene therapy. The potential usefulness of
further restricting delivery/expression depends in large part on
the type of vector being used and the method and place of
introduction of such vector. For instance, delivery of viral
vectors via intracoronary injection to the myocardium has been
observed to provide, in itself, highly targeted gene delivery. In
addition, using vectors that do not result in transgene integration
into a replicon of the host cell (such as adenovirus and numerous
other vectors), cardiac myocytes are expected to exhibit relatively
long transgene expression since the cells do not undergo rapid
turnover. In contrast, expression in more rapidly dividing cells
would tend to be decreased by cell division and turnover. However,
other means of limiting delivery and/or expression can also be
employed, in addition to or in place of the illustrated delivery
method, as described herein.
[0215] Targeted delivery vectors include, for example, vectors
(such as viruses, non-viral protein-based vectors, polymer-based
and lipid-based vectors) having surface components (such as a
member of a ligand-receptor pair, the other half of which is found
on a host cell to be targeted) or other features that mediate
preferential binding and/or gene delivery to particular host cells
or host cell types. As is known in the art, a number of vectors of
both viral and non-viral origin have inherent properties
facilitating such preferential binding and/or have been modified to
effect preferential targeting (see, e.g., Miller, et al., FASEB
Journal, 9:190 (1995); Chonn et al., Curr. Opin. Biotech., 6:698
(1995); Schofield et al., British Med. Bull., 51: 56 (1995);
Schreier, Pharmaceutical Acta Helvetiae 68:145 (1994); Ledley,
Human Gene Therapy, 6:1129 (1995); WO 95/34647; WO 95/28494; and WO
96/000295).
[0216] Targeted vectors include vectors (such as viruses, non-viral
protein-based vectors and lipid-based vectors) in which delivery
results in transgene expression that is relatively limited to
particular host cells or host cell types. For example, transgenes
can be operably linked to heterologous tissue-specific enhancers or
promoters thereby restricting expression to cells in that
particular tissue. For example, tissue-specific transcriptional
control sequences derived from a gene encoding left ventricular
myosin light chain-2 (MLC.sub.2V) or myosin heavy chain (MHC) can
be fused to a transgene within a vector. Expression of the
transgene can therefore be relatively restricted to ventricular
cardiac myocytes.
[0217] Additional gene transfer methods are also contemplated, such
as packaging of DNA with polycations into nanoparticles. Positively
charged polycations complex spontaneously with DNA, which is
negatively charged, resulting in self-assembled nanoparticles. If
the DNA charge is over-compensated, the resulting particle charge
is positive, which then drives the association with negatively
charged cell membranes, thereby facilitating transfection. As an
example of gene delivery using a polycation, see Sweeney et al,
Cancer Research, 63: 4017-4020 (2003). Exemplary polycations
include, but is not limited to, polylysine, polyethylenimine, such
as in vivo-jetPEI.TM. (Avanti.RTM. Polar Lipids, Inc.) and
protamine.
[0218] c. Exemplary Methods to Characterize the Phenotype of
Therapeutic Cells Subjected to Biological Conditioning
[0219] Methods to detect expression of a transgene in a therapeutic
cell include methods that detect transgene-specific RNA, e.g.,
RT-PCR, or methods that detect a gene product encoded by the
transgene, e.g., via an ELISA. Examples of gene-specific assays
include, for instance, those for AC (see, Salomon et al., Anal.
Biochem., 58, 541 (1974); Hammond et al., Circulation, 85, 269
(1992); Hammond et al., Circulation, 8, 666 (1992)), for
.beta.-adrenergic receptor binding or content (Hammond et al.,
Circulation, 8, 666 (1992); Roth et al., FEBS Lett., 29, 46
(1992)), for GRK.sub.2 and GRK.sub.5 content (see, e.g., Ping et
al., J. Clin. Invest., 95, 1271 (1995); and Roth et al., FEBS Lett,
29, 46 (1992)), and for G protein receptor kinase activity (see,
Benovic, Methods Enzymology, 200, 351 (1991); Ping et al., J. Clin.
Invest., 95, 1271 (1995); Ping et al., J. Clin. Invest., 95, 1271
(1995); Ungerer et al., Circulation, 87, 454, (1993)).
[0220] In one embodiment, therapeutic cells are cardiomycytes,
e.g., prepared from cardiac tissue or noncardiac tissue. Detection
of expression of cardiomyocyte-specific proteins may be
accomplished using antibodies to, for example, myosin heavy chain
monoclonal antibody, e.g., MF 20 (MF20), sarcoplasmic reticulum
calcium ATPase (SERCA1), e.g., mnAb 10D1, or gap junctions, e.g.,
using antibodies to connexin 43, as well as phospholamban, or by
detecting the expression of the following genes: titin (Z-band),
.alpha.-actinin, myomesin, sarcomeric myosin heavy chain,
sarcomeric .alpha.-actin, cardiac tropinin T, M protein, RyR2, Cx40
and Cx 43. For the differentiation of ES cells to cardiomyocytes,
the expression of the following genes may be monitored: Nkx 2.5,
MEF2c, GATA 4/5/6, desmin, M-cadherin, beta1-integrin, oxytocin,
oxytocin receptor, cardiac myosin heavy chain, myosin light chain
2A or 2C, cardiac tropinin I, troponin C and ANP. For the
differentiation of bone marrow derived MSCs, the expression of the
following genes may be monitored: beta1 and beta2 adrenergic
receptors, e.g., via the response of cells to isoproterenol, or
muscarinic receptors, e.g., via the response of cells to
carbachol.
[0221] Atrial-like cells may be identified as cells having ion
currents associated with muscarinic acetylcholine-activated K.sup.+
channels and inwardly rectifying K.sup.+ channels, but not
hyperpolarization-activated pacemaker channels, while
ventricular-like cells may be identified as cells having ion
currents associated with inwardly rectifying K.sup.+ channels and
SR ryanodine-sensitive calcium-release channels but not muscarinic
acetylcholine-activated K.sup.+ channels or
hyperpolarization-activated pacemaker channels. Sinus node-like
cells may be identified as cells having ion currents associated
with muscarinic acetylcholine-activated K.sup.+ channels and SR
ryanodine-sensitive calcium release channels, and
hyperpolarization-activated pacemaker channels but not inwardly
rectifying K.sup.+ channels.
[0222] 3. Chemical Conditioning
[0223] In another embodiment, molecules or molecular moieties
possessing affinity to the luminal surface of the target area
vasculature are chemically conjugated to the surface of a
therapeutic cell using methods known to the art, as illustrated in
FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIG. 2A illustrates surface modification of
therapeutic cells using NHS reactive linker molecules. In the
figure, the NHS linker molecules each include NHS and anti-E. FIG.
2B illustrates a therapeutic cell attached to an endothelial cell
of the target vasculature. The molecule or molecular moiety may be
conjugated to the cell surface via a spacer molecule to enhance
accessibility. One such molecule may possess more than one
molecular moiety with affinity to the target surface. In certain
embodiments, the spacer may be branched. Attachment molecules may
be chemically conjugated, i) to amine groups using reactive esters,
epoxide, aldehydes, ii) to sulfhydryl groups using maleimides,
vinyl sulfones, iii) to carboxyl groups using
dimethylaminopropyl-carbodiimide (EDC) chemistry, iv) or
non-selectively using photochemistry.
[0224] For example, the surface of the therapeutic cell, e.g., a
stem cell, may be modified to display or express an antibody to a
receptor present on an endothelial cell of the target vasculature,
e.g., E-Selectin, PECAM (CD31), and the like. In addition to the
biological conditioning methodology as described herein, the
therapeutic cell may be modified by chemically conjugating a vinyl
sulfone (VS)-PEG-antibody molecule to sulfhydril groups to the cell
surface. To generate a VS-PEG-antibody molecular construct, a
cysteine residue may be inserted in the C terminus of the antibody
or antibody fragment by using genetic engineering methodologies.
The genetic code of an antibody of interest may be obtained, for
example, from clonal selection through phage display. The genetic
code of a monoclonal antibody may be modified to include a cysteine
residue at the C terminus and expressed in a bacterial or mammalian
expression system (Harma et al., Clinical Chemistry, 46:1755-1761
(2000)). These engineered antibodies may be incubated with a molar
excess of VS-PEG-VS to yield the above sulfhydril-reactive
VS-PEG-antibody.
[0225] Alternatively, antibodies may be attached to a therapeutic
cell surface through a linking bridge, e.g., a biotin-avidin
bridge. For this purpose, NHS-PEG-biotin is conjugated to the cells
by incubating cells with the NHS-PEG-biotin. Subsequently, cells
are incubated with avidin, or derivatives thereof such as
streptavidin, NeutrAvidin and the like. As avidin provides four
opposing (two on each side) binding pockets for biotin, the cell
surface will present two empty avidin pockets on its surface. In a
final step, biotinylated antibodies are attached to the cell
surface by incubation of the biotinylated antibody with cells
presenting avidin at their surface
[0226] As above, other antibodies, fragments thereof, or molecules
other than antibodies may be conjugated to the surface of a
therapeutic cell.
[0227] Molecules or molecular moieties possessing affinity to the
luminal surface of the target area vasculature may be introduced
into and anchored in the membrane of a therapeutic cell by
liposomal or micelle delivery.
[0228] For example, CD31 antibodies or fragments thereof may be
conjugated to a phosphatidyl ethanolamine lipid with di-C16 or
longer chains. The lipid anchor may than be introduced into the
cell membrane through micelle or liposomal fusion. Alternatively,
hydrophobic peptide alpha-helices (such as poly-leucine), short or
hydrophobic polymer chains may serve as membrane anchors.
[0229] As above, other antibodies, fragments thereof, or molecules
other than antibodies, e.g., affibodies, may be anchored in the
membrane of the therapeutic cells. For molecules with an inherent
transmembrane-domain, modification may not be necessary.
[0230] Proteins and peptides are amino acid polymers containing a
number of reactive side chains. In addition to, or as an
alternative to, these intrinsic reactive groups, specific reactive
moieties can be introduced into a polymer chain by chemical
modification. These groups, whether or not they are naturally a
part of the protein or are artificially introduced, serve as
"handles" for attaching a wide variety of molecules, including
other proteins. The intrinsic reactive groups of proteins are
described in the following section.
[0231] (a) Amines (Lysines, .alpha.-Amino Groups). One of the most
common reactive groups of proteins is the aliphatic .epsilon.-amine
of the amino acid lysine. Lysines are usually present to some
extent and are often quite abundant. Lysine amines are nucleophiles
above pH 8.0 (pK.sub.a=9.18) and therefore react with a variety of
reagents to form stable bonds. Other reactive amines that are found
in proteins are the .alpha.-amino groups of the N-terminal amino
acids. The .alpha.-amino groups are less basic than lysines, are
reactive at around pH 7.0, and can be selectively modified in the
presence of lysines.
[0232] (b) Thiols (Cystine, Cysteine, Methionine). Another common
reactive group in proteins is the thiol residue from the
sulfur-containing amino acid cysteine and its reduction product
cysteine (of half-cystine), which are counted together as one of
the 20 amino acids. Cysteine contains a free thiol group, which is
more nucleophilic than amines and is generally the most reactive
functional group in a protein. It reacts with some of the same
modification reagents as do the amines discussed in the previous
section and in addition can react with reagents that are not very
reactive towards amines. Thiols, unlike most amines, are reactive
at neutral pH, and therefore they can be coupled to other molecules
selectively in the presence of amines. This selectivity makes the
thiol group the linker of choice for coupling two proteins
together, since methods that only couple amines (e.g.,
glutaraldehyde, dimethyladipimidate coupling) can result in
formation of homodimers, oligomers, and other unwanted products.
Since free sulfhydryl groups are relatively reactive, proteins with
these groups often exist in their oxidized form as disulfide-linked
oligomers or have internally bridged disulfide groups.
Immunoglobulin M is an example of a disulfide-linked pentamer,
while immunoglobulin G is an example of a protein with internal
disulfide bridges bonding the subunits together. In proteins such
as this, reduction of the disulfide bonds with a reagent such as
dithiothreitol (DTT) is required to generate the reactive free
thiol. In addition to cystine and cysteine, some proteins also have
the amino acid methionine, which contains sulfur in a thioether
linkage. When cysteine is absent, methionine can sometimes react
with thiol-reactive reagents such as iodoacetamides.
[0233] (c) Phenios (Tyrosine). The phenolic substituent of the
amino acid tyrosine can react in two ways. The phenolic hydroxyl
group can form esters and ether bonds, and the aromatic ring can
undergo nitration or coupling reactions with reagents such as
diazonium salts at the position adjacent to the hydroxyl group.
Tyrosyl residues can react with diazonium compounds. For example, a
p-aminobenzoyl biocytin derivative has been diazotized and reacted
with protein tyrosine groups.
[0234] (d) Carboxylic Acids (Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid).
Proteins contain carboxylic acid groups at the carboxy-terminal
position and within the side chains of the dicarboxylic amino acids
aspartic acid and glutamic acid. The low reactivity of carboxylic
acids in water usually makes it difficult to use these groups to
selectively modify proteins and other biopolymers. In the cases
where this is done, the carboxylic acid group is usually converted
to a reactive ester by use of a water-soluble carbodiimide and then
reacted with a nucleophilic reagent such as an amine or a
hydrazide. The amine reagent should be weakly basic in order to
react specifically with the activated carboxylic acid in the
presence of the other amines on the protein. This is because
protein cross-linking can occur when the pH is raised to above 8.0,
the range where the protein amines are partially unprotonated and
reactive. For this reason, hydrazides, which are weakly basic, are
useful in coupling reactions with a carboxylic acid. This reaction
can also be used effectively to modify the carboxy terminal group
of small peptides.
[0235] (e) Other Amino Acid Side Chains (Arginine, Histidine,
Tryptophan). The chemical modification of other amino acid side
chains in proteins has not been extensive, compared to the groups
discussed above. The high pK.sub.a of the guanidine functional
group of arginine (pK.sub.a=12-13) necessitates more drastic
reaction conditions than most proteins can survive. Arginine
modification has been accomplished primarily with glyoxals and
.alpha.-diketone reagents. Tryptophan modification requires harsh
conditions and is seldom carried out except as a method of analysis
in structural or activity studies. Histidines have been subjected
to photooxidation and reaction with iodoacetates.
[0236] (f) Non-specific attachment. Photoreactive chemistry may be
used to attach molecules to the cell surface in a non-specific way.
When activated by UV or visible radiation, photoreactive groups
react with carbohydrates, proteins or lipids present at the cell
membrane interface. Examples for photoreactive moieties include but
are not limited to phenyl azides, nitrophenyl azides, hydroxyphenyl
azides.
[0237] (g) Other Methods.
[0238] In another embodiment, irritants and/or stimulants may be
mixed with therapeutic cells immediately before infusion.
[0239] As discussed herein, the surface of a therapeutic cell is
modified to enhance engraftment of the cell at a target vasculature
site or region. In one embodiment, "receptor-ligand" interaction is
exploited to enhance engraftment. For example, the HCELL adhesion
molecule present on a therapeutic cells interacts with E-Selectin
present on an endothelial cell at the target site, PSGL interacts
with P-Selectin, and VLA-4 interacts with VCAM-1 and/or ICAM-1.
Thus, the upregulation of any of these adhesion molecules, or the
introduction of any of these adhesion molecules onto the respective
cell membranes, by any methodology as discussed herein, will
increase the membrane concentration of these molecules and
therefore, increase the affinity between the therapeutic cell and
target cell. In one embodiment, either the expression, display, or
both of HCELL, E-Selectin or both is either upregulated, increased,
or both, because of E-Selectin's involvement in the initial
recruitment and initiation of rolling adhesion.
[0240] In another embodiment, any combination of the methods
discussed herein may be used to enhance engraftment of a
therapeutic cell to a target cell For example, the expression of
CD34 on a stem cell can be upregulated by the genetic methods
discussed herein, and then subsequently modified with a
bi-functional linker molecule as discussed to enhance engraftment
of the stem cell at target endothelium.
D. Delivery and Infusion Regimes of to Enhance Engraftment of
Therapeutic Cells
[0241] As disclosed herein, the present subject matter is directed
to an apparatus and method to enhance the engraftment of
therapeutic cells at a target site in vasculature. To increase
therapeutic cell attachment at the target site, therapeutic cells
can be conditioned mechanically to upregulate the expression of
adhesion molecules. In another embodiment, the engraftment of
therapeutic cells at the site of target vasculature is enhanced by
regulating the hemodynamics of the delivered therapeutic cell
solution to establish flow dynamics conducive to therapeutic
cell/target site interaction. For example, therapeutic cell
residency time at the target site can be increased by increasing
the viscosity of the therapeutic cell solution to reduce the flow
rate of the cell solution, by impeding the flow proximally by
employing flow resistance, or by proximal occlusion, which allows
for control of the flow rate of the infused cell suspension.
[0242] 1. Exemplary Protocols for Shear-Induced Modification of
Cell Surface
[0243] Numerous cell types are known to be activated by shear at
shear stress rates above 120 dynes/cm2 (Moritz et al., Thrombosis
Research, 22:445-455 (1981)). In one embodiment, therapeutic cells
are loaded into a catheter. With the tip of a catheter immersed in
the cell suspension, a syringe pump is programmed to perform 1-3
inject/withdraw cycles at high shear rates of, for example, 80
dynes/cm.sup.2 and above.
[0244] Suitable syringe pumps for use in the present invention
include commercially available syringe pumps such as bench top
models (New Era Pump Systems, Inc., Farmingdale, N.Y., USA,
www.syringepump.com; Ted Pella, Inc., Redding, Calif., USA,
www.tedpella.com). U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,298 discloses a programmable
pump to deliver cells through an infusion catheter into myocardium.
The cells in the catheter will then be activated, and, as discussed
herein, adhesion molecules will be upregulated and expressed. Once
the cells are delivered into the target vasculature, they will be
able to more quickly adhere to target vasculature and extravasate
into the surrounding myocardium.
[0245] In an alternative embodiment, therapeutic cells are shear
activated before loading into a catheter, for example, by
controlled shaking or agitation in a table-top device.
[0246] In another embodiment, the inject/withdraw cycles may be
performed with the catheter already positioned at the delivery site
and with occlusion balloon on. In this case, the shear cycle may
not only activate the therapeutic cells that are in the delivery
system, but may also upregulate adhesion molecules on the
endothelial cells lining. This will allow better adhesion of the
delivered cells, e.g., bone marrow mononuclear fraction, to the
vasculature that contains endothelial cells.
[0247] In yet another embodiment, the inject/withdraw cycle may be
performed with the catheter positioned at the delivery site and
with occlusion balloon on. Shear activation is performed with a
saline flush to activate target endothelial cells only. The
therapeutic cells are then delivered to the target vasculature post
saline flush.
[0248] In one embodiment, the shear rate targets are defined for
each individual cycle. Shear rate is a function of length of the
catheter lumen in which cells are residing, as well as the diameter
of such catheter, and fluid velocity produced by the syringe. The
following formula may be used:
Tau (shear stress)=-mu(dv/dr)
and
Tau=(delP/2L)r
With these two equations, sheer stress one can solve for (Tau)
using known device (R, L), pump (Del P and DV/dr), and fluid (mu)
parameters. [Tau=Fluid Shear Stress; mu=Fluid Viscosity; V=Fluid
Velocity (which may be selected on a syringe pump, and is function
of the syringe size); r=Radial Distance (distance from the center
of the circular cross-section or inner lumen radium); P=pressure
generated by the pump and L is length of the tube]. Bird et al.,
Transport Phenomena (1960).
[0249] 2. Protocols to Induce Proximal Flow Impedance
[0250] The residence time of therapeutic cells, i.e., the duration
of time the therapeutic cells are in the vicinity of the target
site or area, can be increased to enhance retention at target site
by controlling hemodynamics, for example, by reducing the flow rate
in the target area vasculature. The flow rate can be controlled
using a proximal flow impedance device. Exemplary impedance devices
include a partially inflated balloon, a doughnut-shaped balloon
(having a middle opening that provides reduced blood flow rate), a
balloon with longitudinal channels in the surface, a spiral balloon
(having profusions at the time of some delivery and wherein the
flow is reduced by forcing migration between adjacent spirals) or a
balloon having fluid flow constrictions. In one example, flow can
be temporarily stopped by complete flow occlusion immediately after
infusion of therapeutic cells and at a time when approximately a
large number of therapeutic cells are located within the target
area.
[0251] In another example, a proximal flow impedance device is
introduced to induce ischemia. According to one example, the blood
flow is not entirely occluded but rather, merely reduced to some
non-zero flow rate. The non-zero flow rate allows infusion of
therapeutic cells. In one example, the flow is reduced from an
initial flow rate by a factor of 10 to 70 percent. Typically, an
arterial occlusion is considered clinically relevant or flow
limiting when the occlusion is approximately 70% or greater.
Accordingly, the level of occlusion provided by a flow resistor of
the present subject matter will by approximately 70-100% of normal
vessel diameter. As noted, exemplary flow resistors include a
balloon having longitudinal grooves along the perimeter through
which fluid flows or a doughnut-shaped balloon in a manner similar
to a vessel lesion.
[0252] In one example, the residence time is increased by changing
the hemodynamics of the therapeutic cells. The hemodynamics can be
tailored by increasing the viscosity of the solution causing the
solution to flow more slowly. Increasing the viscosity serves to
impede the flow proximal to the target site. In addition, flow
proximal to the target site can be reduced by adding a flow
resistance.
[0253] Other kinds of flow resistors are also contemplated,
including, for example, an insertion device fabricated of porous or
sintered material.
[0254] 3. Delivery of Viscous Agents to Enhance Engraftment of
Therapeutic Cells
[0255] Once delivered to the capillary bed, a therapeutic cell
contacts a cell at the target site, e.g., an endothelial cell. If
engaging the endothelial cell through focal molecular adhesion
(receptor to ligand binding), the therapeutic cell rolls along the
endothelial surface until it either breaks free or adheres firmly.
An example for such rolling interaction is the rolling of
leucocytes along endothelial cells. Rolling speeds are on the order
of 40-60 microns/sec, (Ramos, C. et al., Circ Res., 84: 1237-1244
(1999); Prorock, A. et al., Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol., 284:
H133-H140 (2003); Baudry, N. et al., Am J Respir Crit. Care Med,
158: 477-483 (1998)) which translates into a contact time between a
rolling cell and a given endothelial cell of roughly 0.5
seconds.
[0256] To increase the probability of a therapeutic cell contacting
a target cell, in one embodiment, viscous agents are delivered with
the therapeutic cells to a subject. Factors that effect blood
viscosity include plasma viscosity, aggregation of red blood cells,
internal viscosity of red cells, hemoconcentration, aggregation of
platelets and concentration of white cells. Flow velocity is
inversely proportional to viscosity. Higher viscosity leads to a
reduced rate of flow, which in turn increases the residence time of
the therapeutic cells at the target site, thus increasing the time
in which the therapeutic cells have to engraft, i.e., adhere and
transmigrate into the target site, e.g., an infarcted region.
[0257] For example, adding a sufficient amount (about 0.25%-5% by
weight) of a higher viscosity biobeneficial/biocompatible medium
such as tocopherol (Vitamin E), lipid emulsions such as emulsified
vegetable oil, surfactant (Cremaphor), or a hydrophilic polymer
increases the viscosity of the plasma or the therapeutic cell
injection medium, thus increasing the time of residence of
therapeutic cells at the target site during cell delivery. Examples
of suitable hydrophilic polymers are PEG, PVA (Polyvinyl alcohol),
PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone), Dextran, and dextran sulfate. Molecular
weights of the dissolved hydrophilic polymers can range up to 200K
Daltons, and in one embodiment are between 5K to 30K Daltons. These
higher viscosity biobeneficial/biocompatible media increase the
viscosity of plasma, thus increasing the time of residence of
therapeutic cells at the target site during cell delivery.
[0258] Alternatively, to increase the residency time of the
therapeutic cell at a target location, the therapeutic cell is
contacted with, e.g., incubated with, activated platelets or
platelet-derived microparticles to cause the formation of clumps or
rosettes. (Janowska-Wieczorek et al., Blood, 98:3143-3149 (2001)).
After filtering/controlling the clump size, a composition
containing well controlled therapeutic cell clumps leads to
embolization in the capillaries, which increases the dwell time of
the cells in the capillaries as well as provides a transient
ischemic episode that upregulates adhesion and homing molecules in
the surrounding interstitial space. Thus, an efficient transport of
therapeutic cells to the target site is provided.
[0259] In other embodiments, an engraftment enhancing agent such as
a calcium ionophore, oleic acid, histamine, DMSO, histamine,
bradykinin, serotonin, thrombin, VEGF, a leukotriene such as LTC4,
LTD4, LTE4, or a vasodilator, such as an ACE inhibitor or a
nitrate, are added to the injectate to open the interstitial spaces
and/or increase vascular wall permeability for more effective cell
delivery (Rutledge et al., Circulation Research, 66: 486-495
(1990); Saxena et al., J. Clin. Invest., 89: 373-380 (1992); Gupta
et al., J. Leukoc Biol., 70(3): 431-438 (2001); and van Nieuw
Amerongen et al., Circ. Res., 83:1115-1123 (1998)). Liu et al., Am.
J. Hematol., 74: 216-217 (2003) reported that adhesion molecules
were dramatically increased on CD34.sup.+ cells surface in the
presence of platelet microparticles, and these cells were shown to
adhere better on endothelial cells and fibronectin.
[0260] In an alternative embodiment, therapeutic cells, e.g., stem
cells, are delivered in a two-phase process via the capillaries
leading to the target site, e.g., myocardial tissue of the heart,
by means of the delivery device described herein. Phase One (1)
includes the use of a high viscosity "foam" that contains CO.sub.2
and an engraftment enhancing agent such as a cytokine, e.g.,
oxidized LDL, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 and other
cytokines that stimulate the expression of cell adhesion molecules
on the surfaces of cells, and/or a chemokines, such as IL-8, SDF-1,
MIP-1, MCP-1/2/3/4 and lymphoactin. In addition, a device such as
the one disclosed in Gordilo et al., Physics of Fluids, 16: 2828
(2004) can be used to generate the CO.sub.2 microbubbles.
[0261] In another embodiment, the "foam" includes ultrasonic
contrast agents and CO.sub.2 microbubbles. Several cardiac and
intravenously injectable vascular ultrasound contrast agents are
commercially available, such as Albunex (Molecular Biosystems),
Optison (Molecular Biosystems), Echovist (Schering), Levovist
(Schering), EchoGen (Sonus Pharmaceuticals), Definity (Du Pont
Merck), Imagent (Alliance Pharmaceutical), Sonazoid
(Nycomed-Amersham), SonoVue (Bracco Diagnostics), Quantison
(Quadrant), Biosphere (Ponit Biomedical), and AI-700
(Acusphere).
[0262] The physical nature of the solution results from the use of
a mixing device, for example, associated with the delivery device.
The CO.sub.2 microbubbles promote tissue ischemia (necessary
ischemic preconditioning) by elevating the concentration of carbon
dioxide in the blood. This elevation decreases the concentration
gradient for carbon dioxide between the cardiac cells and the blood
resulting in a decreased diffusion of carbon dioxide out of the
cardiac cells and an elevated carbon dioxide level inside the
cells. The elevated carbon dioxide level induces an ischemic state
with an decrease tissue pH (acidosis). The engraftment enhancing
agent induces a firm adhesion of the therapeutic cells to the
capillary walls once the cells are introduced in Phase Two (2).
Phase Two optionally includes the application of high viscosity
"foam" containing CO.sub.2 and therapeutic cells mixed together. By
"foam" is meant a collection of CO.sub.2 microbubbles of sufficient
size to increase blood viscosity and slow the movement of blood and
the cells therein as they pass through capillaries and venules.
Both the premixed engraftment enhancing agent solution and the
premixed therapeutic cell solution are relatively high in
viscosity, compared to blood viscosity. The viscous nature of the
foam combined with the microbubbles of CO.sub.2 would allow the
therapeutic cells to remain in the particular area for a
predetermined period of time. Once the CO.sub.2 is absorbed, the
foam dissipates, resuming normal blood flow through the
myocardia.
[0263] In one embodiment, an additional agent is delivered via the
device to neutralize the foam.
[0264] 4. Delivery of Agents to Increase `Bumping` Frequency
[0265] The probability of a therapeutic cell successfully
engrafting at a target site increases if platelets are added to
cause more bumping of the cells against the vessel surface. The
process of cell extravasation from the vessel wall into the
myocardium involves the upregulation of adhesion molecules on the
cell surface, as well as on the surface of the vessel's endothelium
layer, and the ability of a therapeutic cell to interact with the
endothelium. Thus, in order to initiate cell/surface contact, a
therapeutic cell must first "bump" into the adherent surface, then
roll along the surface at a velocity slow enough to allow adhesion
molecules present on the therapeutic cell to contact, e.g., bind,
with a corresponding adhesion molecules present on the target cell.
The frequency of "bumping" dictates the number of therapeutic cells
that will adhere to the endothelium and extravasate. For example,
it has been reported that leukocytes in close proximity to
endothelial cells upon entry into postcapillary venules experience
frequent collisions with erythrocytes, which pushes the cells
towards the vessel wall (Stein et al., The Journal of Experimental
Medicine, 189: 37-39 (1999)).
[0266] In one embodiment, microbubbles with sizes equivalent to red
blood cells are administered together with the therapeutic cell
solution to increase the collision frequency potential, which
optimizes the chance of cellular adhesion. In one embodiment, the
microbubbles are about 10 microns in diameter, and are composed of
a lipid such as phospatidyl choline, albumin, a degradable polymer
such as polycaprolactone, PLGA poly(lactide-co-glycolide),
Polyester-amide, polyphosphazine, tyrosine carbonate, and the like,
or any combination thereof. The addition of microbubbles to the
therapeutic cell solution increases the apparent viscosity of the
fluid, which slows down the rolling of the therapeutic cells. In
another embodiment, the microbubbles serve as a carrier of a
substance, such as oxygen or NO to either induce a transient, local
ischemic environment or to provide more oxygenation in the event of
prolonged ischemia.
[0267] In another embodiment, platelet-derived microparticles
(PMPs) are employed to increase bumping frequency. PMPs are
released upon activation of platelets and express functional
adhesion receptors, including .alpha.IIb.beta.3 (CD41), P-selectin
(CD62P), and other platelet membrane receptors such as CXCR4 and
PAR-1 (Janowska-Wieczorek et al., Blood, 98:3143-3149 (2001)). PMPs
released by activated platelets bind to membranes of therapeutic
cells, e.g., CD34.sup.+ therapeutic cells, and increase their
adhesion to endothelial cells (Id.). PMPs can be prepared using
methods known to the art. For example, PMPs can be collected from
blood by centrifugation. Briefly, blood is centrifuged in order to
collect platelet-rich plasma. Platelet rich plasma is then
centrifuged in order to obtain platelet poor plasma. The platelet
poor plasma is then centrifuged to collect the platelet
microparticles (PMPs). In one embodiment, PMPs are collected from
aged blood. See, for example, Forlow et al., Blood, 95: 1317-1323
(2000); Janowska-Wieczorek et al., Blood, 98: 3143-3149 (2001).
[0268] Bumping frequency can also be increased by employing
liposomes, lipid vesicles or vesicles with membranes formed from
di-block or tri-block co-polymers that can increase the viscosity
of the medium and bumping frequency of the therapeutic cells with
the endothelium when added to the delivery medium. The liposomes,
lipid vesicles or vesicles with membranes formed from di-block or
tri-block co-polymers have a size of approximately 100 nm-20 .mu.m
diameter, for example, approximately 100 nm-1 .mu.m diameter. In
one embodiment, the co-polymers have a size approximately 3-15
.mu.m. In one embodiment, the liposome includes a therapeutic
agent.
[0269] In yet another embodiment, microspheres are employed to
increase bumping frequency. The microspheres may be composed of
degradable polymers such as polycaprolactone, PLGA
poly(lactide-co-glycolide), Polyester-amide, polyphosphazine,
tyrosine carbonate, etc., or Alginate crosslinked with divalent Ca,
Ba or Sr cations. Microspheres may also be made of an
extra-cellular matrix protein such as collagen or gelatin,
crosslinked with glutaraldehyde to prevent quick dissolution.
[0270] 5. Delivery of Agents to Enhance Homing of Therapeutic Cells
to Target Vasculature
[0271] Stem cells are precursor cells capable of proliferation,
self-renewal, and differentiation into specialized tissues and
organs, including cardiomyocytes. The repopulation of
cardiomyocytes to regenerate new myocardium can mitigate the
remodeling process. The "homing process" involves stem cell
migration to the sites of injury or ischemia, which provides an
environment that is favorable to growth and function. This
microenvironment is a stimulus for homing and differentiation of
stem cells of the appropriate lineage. It increases vascular
permeability and expression of adhesion proteins like integrin,
along with homing receptors that facilitate their attachment, which
is mediated by cell-to-cell contact and chemoattractant release
from local tissue injury.
[0272] In one embodiment, chemokines, a superfamily of small
proteins that function as potent chemotactic agents, some of which
have a tissue- and inflammation-specific distribution, and others
which are widely distributed, are exploited to attract the
therapeutic cells to the target vascular endothelium. For example,
SDF-1 plays a role in homing (Sackstein, J. Invest. Dermatol., 122:
1061-1069 (2004)). SDF-1 is infused into the target vasculature
before infusion of therapeutic cells to provide a homing stimulus.
Alternatively, SDF-1 is contacted with therapeutic cells prior to
infusion, which contact initiates homing signaling pathways leading
to increased retention of therapeutic cells upon infusion into the
target vasculature.
[0273] Alternatively, it has been shown that exposure of cell to
cytokines alters expression patterns of these cells. Therefore,
infusion of platelet derived cytokines/growth factors, VEGF, FGF,
prior to infusion of therapeutic cells may increase cell retention
at target vasculature.
[0274] Cytokines, such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor
(G-CSF) and stem cell factor (SCF), increase bone marrow stem cell
mobilization, homing, and engraftment to infarcted myocardium. The
endogenous repair process after myocardial necrosis can also be
enhanced with specific growth factors, such as insulin-like and
hepatocyte growth factors, that stimulate cardiomyocyte replication
and attract cardiac resident stem cells.
[0275] The migratory capacity of transplanted progenitor cells
might be dependent on natural growth factors such as vascular
endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and stromal cell-derived factor-1
(SDF-1). The expression of VEGF and SDF-1 is highly up-regulated in
hypoxic tissue, supporting the hypothesis that these factors may
represent homing signals crucial to the recruitment of circulating
progenitor cells to assist the endogenous repair mechanisms in the
infarcted tissue.
[0276] Transplanted stem cells must engraft and proliferate
efficiently after myocardial infarction to derive a maximal
clinical benefit. With a smooth transition process, newly formed
cardiomyocytes are required to be connected intercellularly through
electrical coupling with other cardiomyocytes and the formation of
connexin, an integral membrane protein constituent of gap
junctions. Paramount to the survival of the stem cells is
simultaneous neovascularization to keep up with the metabolic
requirements of the newly transplanted cells to perform contractile
work.
[0277] As described herein, mediators of stem cell mobilization,
migration and attachment include granulocyte colony-stimulating
factor, stem cell factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
and stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1).
[0278] In another embodiment, magnetically targeted therapy is used
to manipulate the homing process. Therapeutic cells, such as stem
and progenitor cells including hematopoeitic progenitor
(CD34.sup.+) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), take up and
incorporate into perinuclear endosomes micron-scale iron oxide
particles without affecting cell proliferation or functional
capabilities (Hinds et al., Hematopoiesis, 102: 867-872 (2003)).
Therapeutic cells are contacted with such particles, which are
either attached to the cell or taken up by the cell, and delivered
to a subject. As described herein, application of a magnetic field
gradient following delivery of the therapeutic cells and magnetic
carriers enhances engraftment of therapeutic cells to the target
vasculature (see in general Pankhurst et al., J. Phys. D: Appl.
Phys., 36: R167-R181 (2003)). Suitable magnetic particles are known
to the art, and include super-paramagnetic nanoparticles with iron
oxide. Additional examples of suitable particles are shown in
Tables 1 and 2.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Polymer composition/ End groups Other
Diameter surface and activation Immobilized immobilized Name
(.mu.m) modification possibility antibodies compounds
Manufacturer/supplier BioMag -1 Silanization of --COOH, --NH.sub.2
Secondary Abs, Protein A, PerSeptive Biosystems, iron oxides
anti-CD Abs, protein G, Farmingham, MA, USA anti-fluorescein
streptavidin, Ab biotin Dynabeads M-280 2.8 Polystyrene Tosyl-
Secondary Abs, Streptavidin, Dynal, Oslo, Norway Dynabeads M-450
4.5 activated anti-CD Abs, oligo (dT) Dynabeads M-500 5 Abs against
E. coli O157, Salmonella Listeria, Cryptosporidivan Estapor -1
Polystyrene --COOH, --NH.sub.2 Prolabo, Fontenay-sous-Bois, France
Iobeads -1 Anti-CD Abs, Avidin Immunotech, Marseille, secondary Abs
France M 100 1-10 Cellulose --OH Scigen, Sittingbourne, UK M 104 M
108 MagaBeads 3.2 Polystyrene --COOH, --NH2, Secondary Abs
Streptavidin Cortex Biochem., San epoxy protein A, Leandro, CA, USA
protein G Magne-Sphere <1 Streptavidin Promega, Madison, WI, USA
Magnetic beads 0.8 Latex Streptavidin, ProZyme, San Leandro, CA,
protein A, USA protein G Magnetic 1-2 Polystyrene --COOH Protein A
Polysciences, Warrington, microparticles --NH.sub.2 PA, USA
Magnetic particles 1 Polystyrene Anti-digoxigenin Streptavidin
Boehringer, Mannheim, Ab Germany Magnetic particles -1 Polystyrene
Bangs Labs, Fishers, IN, USA MPG 5 Porous glass --NH.sub.2,
Streptavidin, CPT, Lincoln Park, NJ, USA hydrazide, avidin glyceryl
Sera-Mag 1 Polystyrene --COOH Streptavidin Seradyn, Indianapolis,
IN, USA SPHERO Various Polystyrene --COOH, --NH.sub.2 Secondary Abs
Streptavidin, Spherotech, Libertyville, IL, magnetic particles
(1-4.5) biotin USA XM200 3.5 Polystyrene --COOH Secondary Abs
Protein A Advanced Biotechnologies, microsphere Epsom, UK
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 End groups and Other Diameter Polymer
activation Immobilized immobilized Name (nm) composition
possibility antibodies compounds Manufacturer/supplier Ferrofluids
135, 175 Modified --COOH, --NH.sub.2 Secondary Streptavidin,
Immunicon, hydrophilic Abs protein A Huntingdon Valley, protein PA,
USA MACS 50 Dextran --OH Secondary Streptavidin, Miltenyi Biotec,
microbeads Abs, anti- biotin Bergisch Gladbach, CD Abs Germany
Magnetic 90-600 Starch, --OH, --COOH Streptavidin, Micro-caps,
Rostock, nanoparticles dextran, protein A, Germany chitosan biotin
MagNIM 50, 250, --COOH, --NH.sub.2 Secondary Streptavidin,
Cardinal, Santa Fe, 500 Abs, Ab protein A NM, USA against E. coli
O157
[0279] In one embodiment of this method, both therapeutic cells and
the lumen surface of the target vasculature are modified to include
magnetically responsive particles. Either the therapeutic cells or
the target surface is modified with permanently magnetized
particles, and the compliment is modified with permanently
magnetized, ferromagnetic or super-paramagnetic or paramagnetic
particles. Modifications may be accomplished by cellular uptake of
magnetic particles, by attachment or chemical conjugation of
magnetic particles to the surface of therapeutic cells/target area
surface as described herein for attachment molecules, or by
attachment of vesicles/liposomes/micelles containing magnetic
particles.
[0280] The magnetic particles can range from about 10 nm to about
10 .mu.m in diameter. In one embodiment, the diameter of the
particle is about 10 nm to about 1 .mu.m, and in another embodiment
about 50 nm to about 500 nm. The particles may comprise rare earth
magnetic material, ferrous components, and/or iron oxides.
[0281] The magnetic particles may be labeled with adhesion
molecules, such as CD34, CD133, or antibodies thereof.
[0282] In one embodiment, a magnetically modified therapeutic cell
is attracted into the target area by magnetic force generated
through an external magnetic field gradient. In a magnetic field
with a gradient, magnetized particles, or magnetically responsive
particles (such as paramagnetic or super-paramagnetic particles)
are subject to a force in the direction of the gradient and
proportional to the field gradient and the magnetic moment of the
particle (in the case of paramagnetic particles, this moment is
induced by the external field, and thus the attractive force also
becomes a function of the magnetic field strength as well as the
magnetic susceptibility of the particle). If, for example, the
target vasculature is on the surface of the heart, and the target
tissue is the local myocardium, then a magnetic field gradient
directed perpendicular to the vascular wall and towards the target
myocardium will exert a force directed towards the vessel wall
along the target tissue on the magnetically responsive particles.
As described above, cells may be magnetically modified by
internalization of magnetic particles of attachment of such
particles to the surface of the cells. This may be accomplished by
using magnetic particles modified at their surface with antibodies
to receptors present on the therapeutic (stem) cells. Such
particles are commercially available.
[0283] Alternatively, magnetic particles may be introduced into the
cell by magnetic cationic liposomes (MCLs). Magnetic cationic
liposomes are liposomes with a membrane with cationic lipids and
are filled with magnetically responsive nanoparticles. The
electrostatic interaction between the cationic membrane and cell
membranes results in internalization of the nanoparticles into the
cell. In addition, magnetically labeled cells may be imaged by MRI,
thereby allowing to assess amount of cells retained in the target
area and as well as their spatial distribution.
E. Application of Magnetic Field Gradient Following Delivery of
Therapeutic Cells Comprising Magnetic Nanoparticles
[0284] A magnetic nanoparticle can be manipulated by an external
magnetic field gradient (Pankhurst et al., J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys.,
36: R167-R181 (2003)).
[0285] In one example, the subject matter is directed to proactive
retention of cells by a surface chemistry that increases the mutual
affinity. The affinity of the cell to the surface of the target
vasculature is increased or the system is modified to increase
susceptibility to magnetic attraction forces. Such changes result
in an increased dwell time, or residency, and increasing the
stickiness. As such, the stickiness serves to retain or capture the
therapeutic cells.
[0286] In one example, the therapeutic cells are combined with or
infused with magnetic particles using different methods. Ferrous
oxide has been demonstrated. The magnetic particles can be adhered
to the therapeutic cells by various methods, including cellular
uptake, attachment chemical conjugation, incubation and attachment
of vesicles.
[0287] A magnetic field applied externally can be used to direct
the cells to a target site. In various examples, either the
endothelial cells, the therapeutic cells or both the endothelial
cells and therapeutic cells are treated with the magnetic
particles.
[0288] For example, with some mononuclear cells, magnetic particles
of a particular size are ingested. Ingestion can be facilitated
with electroporation, for example. Other commercially available
tools, such as magnetic beads, are affixed using surface adhesion.
In one example, the therapeutic cells are modified with a specific
antibody.
[0289] The magnetic attraction forces can be used to enhance
engraftment. For example, the therapeutic cell mixture is mixed
with magnetic beads and then the beads attach specifically to the
target cells and then those cells are retained by a magnetic
force.
[0290] In the present subject matter, the magnetic force is used to
draw therapeutic cells to a particular location on the target using
a magnetic field gradient. For example, by establishing a magnetic
field gradient directed perpendicular to the surface of the heart,
followed by flushing the therapeutic cells, the cells will be
directed to the vessel wall of the target vasculature.
[0291] The magnetic gradient is applied perpendicular using a
static magnetic field source. In one example, the field is applied
externally through an MRI-like magnet or a strong magnet external
to the body. In one example, the magnetic field is oriented such
that the field gradient is normal to the surface of the heart in
the target area. As such, the magnetic particles will experience a
force normal to the surface of the heart. FIG. 3 illustrates organ
35 having damaged vessel 38. Static magnetic field gradient 30 is
applied externally and exerts a magnetic force on magnetic
particles 39 in a direction substantially normal to vessel 38. In
the figure, magnetic particles 39 are attached to therapeutic
cells.
[0292] The magnetic beads used to enhance engraftment of
therapeutic cells are mixed, and optionally labeled. In one
example, the beads are labeled to attach them to the cells.
Examples of labels include an antibody to CD-34, or CD-133, or an
activated bead that has surface chemistry that is
amine-reactive.
[0293] The applied field generates a magnetic attraction that
serves to slow the flow in the localized region at the target and
also tends to increase the "adhesiveness" of a therapeutic cell to
a target cell, which forces the therapeutic cells to dwell longer
at the target location. In one embodiment, a magnetic field may be
applied for the duration of the infusion and possible dwell time.
Infusion duration times may vary anywhere from 30 seconds to 1
hour. Exposure to magnetic fields may be in similar time frame. For
example, cells may be infused in 30 second increments, followed by
3 minute occlusion periods. After the therapeutic cells engage with
the vessel wall, then the biological interaction and the
interaction between the receptor occurs.
F. Compositions, Dosages and Routes of Administration of
Therapeutic Cell Compositions
[0294] Compositions comprise therapeutic cells, including cells
from different sources, and optionally agents that enhance
therapeutic cell engraftment, survival, proliferation and/or
differentiation, enhance cardiac function or stimulate
angiogenesis. The cells to be administered may be a population of
individual cells or cells grown in culture so as to form a two
dimensional or three dimensional structure. The number of cells to
be administered will be an amount which results in a beneficial
effect to the recipient. For example, from 10.sup.2 to 10.sup.10,
e.g., from 10.sup.3 to 10.sup.9, 10.sup.4 to 10.sup.8, or 10.sup.5
to 10.sup.7, cells can be administered to, e.g., injected, the
target region of interest, for instance, infarcted and tissue
surrounding infarcted tissue. Agents which may enhance cardiac
function or stimulate angiogenesis include but are not limited to
pyruvate, catecholamine stimulating agents, fibroblast growth
factor, e.g., basic fibroblast growth factor, acidic fibroblast
growth factor, fibroblast growth factor-4 and fibroblast growth
factor-5, epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor,
vascular endothelial growth factor (e.g., VEGF.sub.121,
VEGF.sub.145, VEGF.sub.165, VEGF.sub.189 or VEGF.sub.206), tissue
growth factors and the like. Such agents may optionally be present
in the compositions or administered separately.
[0295] The cells are administered during a prophylactic, diagnostic
or therapeutic vascular procedure or an invasive or minimally
invasive surgical procedure. In one embodiment, the cells are
administered post-myocardial infarction, within hours, e.g., 1 to
12 hours, to days, e.g., 1 to 2 days, and up to one or more weeks
after myocardial infarction. Preferably, the administration of
therapeutic cells is prior to scar formation. The cells may be
administered intravenously, transvenously, intramyocardially or by
any other convenient route, and delivered by a needle, catheter,
e.g., a catheter which includes an injection needle or infusion
port, or other suitable device. Some exemplary delivery apparatus
and methods include, but are not limited to, the teachings provided
herein.
[0296] In one embodiment, once administered, the therapeutic cells
develop functional connections with adjacent cells, membrane
channels with adjacent cells, including viable cells in the
recipient, and, if not already differentiated, differentiate to
myocardial cells.
[0297] Intracoronary catheter-based delivery of cells is known in
the art. For example, the Transplantation of Progenitor Cells and
Regeneration Enhancement in Acute Myocardial Infarction
(TOP-CARE-AMI) pilot trial compared the effect of direct
intracoronary infusion of autologous circulating progenitor cells
and bone marrow cells in 20 patients who underwent primary
angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction. In the study, cells
were delivered via an over-the-wire balloon catheter advanced into
a previously deployed stent.
III. Target Cells
[0298] To increase the probability and strength of attachment of
therapeutic cells to cells located in the target site, i.e., target
cells such as endothelial cells of the lumen surface of the target
vasculature, the lumen surface may be modified such that the
surface density of available adhesion molecules is altered, e.g.,
increased. As discussed herein, target cell adhesion molecules
possess an affinity to the surface of the therapeutic cells, or
molecular moieties thereof. Any of the methodology disclosed herein
for the modification of a therapeutic cell might be used to modify
a target cell as well. For example, target cells may be subjected
to mechanical conditioning, biological conditioning, chemical
conditioning, or any combination thereof. The expression of and/or
number of endothelial adhesion molecules present on the surface of
an endothelial cell such as ICAM-1, VLA-4 ligand (vascular cell
adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1)) and E-selectin can be altered by
these methods. Additional examples of adhesion molecules with an
affinity to the surface of the therapeutic cells include antibodies
to adhesion molecules present on the surface of therapeutic cells,
e.g., anti-CD133 or anti-CD34 antibodies.
[0299] In one embodiment, the expression profiles of adhesion
molecules on endothelial cells is manipulated by the magnitude and
type of shear stress, i.e., laminar v. turbulent, and time of
exposure to the shear stress. Any mechanism that induces shear
stress might be utilized in the mechanical conditioning of target
cells. For example, in one embodiment of mechanically conditioning
target cells, a shear stress at rate of 20 dynes/cm.sup.2 increases
the expression of ICAM-1, and decreases VCAM-1 and E-selectin
expression on target endothelial cells through modulation of
transcriptional level gene expression (Chiu et al., Arterioscel
Thromb Vasc Biology, 24:1-8 (2004)). In addition, shear influences
NF-kB transcriptional factor in endothelial cells (Ganguli, A. et
al., Circ. Res., 96 (6): 626-634 (2005)). In another embodiment,
saline fluid can be used to mechanically condition the target
cells. In one example, the catheter is loaded with saline, saline
is infused into the vessel, and through a cyclic infusion/withdraw
regime using a pump connected to the distal end of the infusion
catheter, shear is imposed onto endothelium of the targeted
tissue.
[0300] As for "biological conditioning," target cells can be
subjected to periods of hypoxia to upregulate adhesion molecules.
For example, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and vascular
cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 expression are upregulated in
endothelial cells subjected to hypoxia (Ng et al., Am. J. Physiol.,
283: C93-C102 (2002)). In addition, hypoxia may directly activate
NFk-B. NFk-B sites are present in the promoter of the ICAM-1 gene
(Ohga et al., Nippon Risho, 58:1587-1591 (2000)). Therefore,
hypoxia may directly activate the ICAM-1 through activation of
NFk-B. Brief occlusions of target vasculature may also result in
the upregulation of adhesion molecule expression on endothelial
cells. In addition, target cells at a target site in the
vasculature may be genetically modified using any method known to
the art to upregulate expression of an adhesion molecules and/or to
modify cell surface to enhance engraftment of therapeutic
cells.
[0301] In addition, cells in the target area may be genetically
modified prior to infusion of therapeutic cells to express (or
increase the expression of) adhesion molecules or to increase the
surface presentation of adhesion molecules. Genetic modification
may be done by infusion of viral vectors, liposomal or micelle
delivery vehicles, plasmids, as described herein. Intracoronary
delivery of genetic material can result in transduction of
approximately 30% of the myocytes predominantly in the distribution
of the coronary artery. Parameters influencing the delivery of
vectors via intracoronary perfusion and enhancing the proportion of
myocardium transduced include a high coronary flow rate, longer
exposure time, vector concentration, and temperature. Gene delivery
to a substantially greater percent of the myocardium may be
enhanced by administering the gene in a low-calcium, high-serotonin
mixture (Donahue et al., Nat. Med., 6:1395 (2000)). The potential
use of this approach for gene therapy for heart failure may be
increased by the use of specific proteins that enhance myocardial
uptake of vectors (e.g., cardiac troponin T). Improved methods of
catheter-based gene delivery have been able to achieve almost
complete transfection of the myocardium in vivo. Hajjar et al.,
(Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 95:5251 (1998)) used a technique
combining surgical catheter insertion through the left ventricular
apex and across the aortic valve with perfusion of the gene of
interest during cross-clamping of the aorta and pulmonary artery.
This technique resulted in almost complete transduction of the
heart and could serve as a protocol for the delivery of adjunctive
gene therapy during open-heart surgery when the aorta can be
cross-clamped.
[0302] Exemplary transgenes for delivery to a target cell include
those genes that express corresponding adhesion molecules to those
adhesion molecules found on a therapeutic cells, genes that express
cytokines, genes that express Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1 (HIF-1),
genes that express heat shock protein (HSP) (for cellular
protection), cytokines (SCF, HGF), chemokines (SDF1), chemokine
receptors (CXCRs, CCRs), proteolytic enzymes (MMP-2, MMP-9),
angiogenic growth factors (VEGF receptors, such as VEGF-1/2/3/4;
FGF receptors, such as FGFR-1/2/3/4), and anti-apoptosis (akt).
[0303] In one embodiment, a "two-step procedure" can be used to
biologically modify a therapeutic cell and a target cell. For
instance, cells at the target site can be modified, e.g. by
delivery of a gene that would enhance expression of a
counter-receptor; which modification is followed by the delivery of
therapeutic cells. For example, on day 1, a gene of interest is
delivered to a target site, and on day 2, therapeutic cells are
infused. Thus, sufficient time for expression of the delivered gene
is allowed.
[0304] In another embodiment, bi- or multifunctional linker
molecules are infused/injected into the target area vasculature
prior to, or simultaneous with, the infusion of therapeutic cells,
where at least one functionality of the linker molecule has
affinity to the surface of the lumen surface of the target area
vasculature, e.g., endothelial cell surface, and at least one other
functionality has affinity to the surface of the therapeutic cells,
as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B. FIG. 4A illustrates endothelial
cells having a surface modified with bi-functional linker
molecules. FIG. 4B illustrates therapeutic cells attached to a
lumen surface by bi-functional linker molecules. To enhance
accessibility, the functionalities may be separated by a spacer,
such as a hydrophilic polymer chain, e.g., PEG. For multifunctional
linkers, the spacer may have branches or be of star form.
[0305] For example, a CD133-antibody linked via a PEG spacer to a
CD31-antibody is used to modify the surface of an endothelial cell
resident at the lumen surface of the target vasculature. The CD31
antibody has affinity to the CD31 receptor present at the surface
of the endothelial cells, while the CD133 antibody has affinity to
the CD133 molecule on the surface of the therapeutic cell, e.g., a
therapeutic stem cell. To modify the surface of the endothelial
cell, the bifunctional antiCD133-PEG-antiCD31 compound is infused
into the target vasculature. As the antiCD31 moiety attaches to the
CD31 receptor, the endothelial cell surface will effectively
present anti-CD133 antibodies with affinity to the surface of an
endothelial cell found in the target vasculature.
[0306] Alternatively, a homo-bifunctional linker molecule is used.
For example, two anti-CD34 antibodies are joined by a short carbon
linker and are used to modify the surface of resident endothelial
cells of microvasculature. While one of the two antibody moieties
adheres to CD34 present on the surface of capillary endothelial
cells, the other anti-CD34 moiety is presented outward. Therapeutic
cells having CD34 on their surface bind to endothelium pretreated
in this fashion.
[0307] In another embodiment, molecules or molecular moieties
possessing affinity to the surface of the therapeutic cells may be
chemically conjugated to the luminal surface of the target area
vasculature, as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B. FIG. 5A illustrates
surface modification of lumen cells using NHS reactive linker
molecules. In the figure, the NHS linker molecules each include NHS
and anti-T. FIG. 5B illustrates a therapeutic cell attached to an
endothelial cell of the target vasculature. A molecule or molecular
moiety is conjugated to the lumen surface via a spacer molecule to
enhance accessibility. A molecule may possess more than one
molecular moiety with affinity to the target surface, in which case
the spacer may be branched. Chemical conjugation is achieved by
infusion of said molecules into the target area vasculature. To
enhance the efficiency of the conjugation, the target area
vasculature is flushed with saline prior to infusion of attachment
molecules. Attachment molecules may be chemically conjugated, i) to
amine groups using reactive esters, epoxide, ii) to sulfhydryl
groups using maleimides, vinyl sulfones, or iii) to carboxyl groups
using dimethylaminopropyl-carbodiimide (EDC) chemistry.
[0308] For example, the lumen surface of the target vasculature
(e.g. capillary endothelial cells) may be modified by antibodies to
receptors present on the surface of the therapeutic, e.g., stem
cells (e.g. CD34, CD133, KDR). This may be done by infusing a
VS-PEG-antibody molecule into the target vasculature and thereby,
conjugating the antibody to sulthydril groups present on the
surface of endothelial cells of the target vasculature. A
VS-PEG-antibody molecular construct may be made as described
above.
[0309] In additional embodiments, other antibodies, fragments
thereof, or molecules other than antibodies may be conjugated to
the lumen surface of the target vasculature.
[0310] Molecules or molecular moieties possessing affinity to the
surface of the therapeutic cells may be introduced and anchored in
the membrane of endothelial cells of the target area vasculature by
liposomal or micelle delivery.
[0311] For example, CD31 antibodies or fragments thereof may be
conjugated to a phosphatidyl ethanolamine lipid with di-C16 or
longer chains. These lipid-antibody conjugated may be embedded in
micelles or liposomes and infused into the target area.
Alternatively, hydrophobic peptide alpha-helices (such as
poly-leucine) may serve as membrane anchors.
[0312] Circulating endothelial progenitor cells amass at sites of
injury (Asahara et al., Science, 275:964-966 (1997); Asahara et
al., Circulation Research, 85: 221-228 (1999)). Sites of injury are
characterized by local cell irritation. The infusion of mild
irritants, such as slightly acidic or basic buffers, diluted
ethanol, and lactic acid, prior to infusion of the therapeutic
cells to the target area may therefore increase cell retention. In
one embodiment, an agent such as but not limited to ethanol
(diluted to 0.01-0.5% by volume); an acidic buffer (i.e., a buffer
having a pH in the range of about 5.5 to about 7.0, e.g., pH
6.5.+-.0.5; a basic buffer (i.e. a buffer having a pH in the range
of about pH 8.0 to about pH 9.0, e.g., pH 8.0-8.5; high
concentration saline (i.e., a saline solution in the range of about
180 mM to about 300 mM NaCl, e.g., about 200-250 mM NaCl); a heated
solution, e.g. a saline solution in the range of about
38-42.degree. C., e.g., about 39-40.degree. C.
[0313] In another embodiment, the infusion of stimulants, such as
cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, hormones, nitric oxide (NO)
and other messenger molecules prior to infusion of the therapeutic
cells to the target area may increase cell retention.
IV. Induction of Transient, Localized Ischemia
[0314] In certain embodiments, the subject matter includes devices
and methods that provides a means of delivering therapeutic cells,
e.g., previously prepared cells, to a target site, such as the
heart, and promoting the engraftment, e.g., absorption, of the
cells into the target area, e.g., into the myocardium. The cells
may be intended to produce any number of different effects. One
example is to promote myocardial regeneration following an infarct
by causing therapeutic cells to be absorbed by the heart.
[0315] Current methods focus on initially establishing ischemic
conditions in order to activate receptors that promote call
absorption. This is accomplished by inflating an occlusion balloon
within the coronary vasculature. The balloon is later deflated and
cells are then injected into the coronary arteries. The cells
travel down stream to the ischemic region to be absorbed. This
method is undesirable in several respects. First, the necessary
vessel occlusion introduces a level of patient risk while at the
same time making the patient extremely uncomfortable. Second, once
the therapeutic cells are introduced, they readily flow past the
ischemic region such that the opportunity for absorption is
minimal. The concepts presented herein are intended to address
these concerns. Each provides a "controlled" method of introducing
ischemia while increasing the "soak time" such that the opportunity
for cell absorption is also increased.
[0316] Herein a device is described to inject medical grade carbon
dioxide (CO.sub.2) into the desired artery. CO.sub.2 is an
established alternate angiographic contrast agent, and can be
delivered by pump or injection (see Cronin et al., Clin. Radiol.,
60: 123-125 (2005)). Rather than delivering a bolus of CO.sub.2,
the device described herein delivers the gas continuously in the
form of a stream of small bubbles. The CO.sub.2 bubbles induce a
localized, hypoxic environment in the arterial and/or venial
system. By "small bubbles" or "microbubbles" is meant a bubble that
can pass through a capillary, for example, a CO.sub.2 bubble having
a diameter of less than about 6 microns (typically about 3
microns-about 6 microns). In one embodiment, CO.sub.2 microbubbles
of the size of ultrasound contrast media can be used. In addition,
microbubbles larger than 6 microns can be used to occlude
microvessels temporarily until the microbubble disintegrates and
blood flow resumes, which occlusion will create an ischemic
environment due to the occlusion of flow and due to elevated carbon
dioxide generated by the bubble. The lack of flow will also
facilitate therapeutic cell adhesion in the vicinity of the
ischemic environment.
[0317] If necessary, these bubbles may be small enough and
plentiful enough to create a dispersion between the flowing blood
and the CO.sub.2. The CO.sub.2 bubbles displace the blood such that
ischemia is introduced, however, the artery remains patent such
that blood continues to flow.
[0318] The bubble infusion rate is adjusted as a means of
regulating the level of ischemia (e.g., by active regulation of by
use of a predetermined, fixed setting). A steady-state level of
ischemia is established that produces the necessary preconditioning
(receptor activation) at the target site. The time required to
absorb the CO.sub.2 will result in an overall reduced flow rate of
the blood/CO.sub.2 combination. Thus a reduced level of perfusion
is also established.
[0319] In one embodiment, previously prepared therapeutic cells
(stem cells, for example) are injected alongside the CO.sub.2 via
the same catheter such that the blood/CO.sub.2 mixture now becomes
a mixture of blood, CO.sub.2, and cells. Because some reduced level
of perfusion remains present, the cells are slowly carried down
stream and enter the ischemic capillary region. They slowly pass
across this region and are absorbed by receptors activated by the
ischemic condition.
[0320] The CO.sub.2 component maintains the required ischemic level
to promote cell absorption. The reduced flow rate provides
additional time for the stem cells to be absorbed as they pass
across the ischemic region.
[0321] Thus, in one embodiment a method entails a continuous
process rather than a repetitive series of vessel occlusions
followed by stem cell injections. In addition, a myocardial infarct
site can be readily targeted by advancing the device more distally
than a device that includes the use of a balloon.
[0322] In an alternative embodiment, the "dispersion" is created by
passing the CO.sub.2 through a small sponge contained within the
distal tip of the catheter, as illustrated in FIG. 6B.
[0323] In one embodiment, saline is used to introduce ischemia.
[0324] In one example, therapeutic cells and CO.sub.2 microbubbles
are delivered to a target site via a catheter. The CO.sub.2
microbubbles burst and deliver CO.sub.2 to a localized target area,
which preconditions the target site to enhance the engraftment of
the therapeutic cells.
[0325] In one example, the CO.sub.2 microbubbles are delivered in a
continuous stream by using a porous element of a catheter head. The
porous element, in one example, includes a sponge-type material or
a porous ceramic or synthetic material.
[0326] FIG. 6A illustrates exemplary catheter system 60 having
implantable mixing chamber 64 at a distal end of catheter body 62
and dispersion port 66 and therapeutic cell port 68 at a proximate
end. Catheter body 62, in the example illustrated includes two
lumens. Dispersion port 66 is configured to receive gaseous
CO.sub.2 and therapeutic cell port 68 is configured to receive
therapeutic cells. Port 66 and port 68, in various examples, are
coupled to a pump or syringe.
[0327] FIG. 6B illustrates bubble producing mixing chamber 64
receives a dispersion via line 72 and therapeutic cells via line
74A. Line 72 is coupled to dispersion port 66 and terminates within
reservoir 80 at bubbler 76. Bubbler 76, in the example illustrated,
includes a sponge material, however other bubble producing
materials can also be used. Line 74A is coupled to therapeutic cell
port 68 and terminates within reservoir 80 at end 74B. End 74B, in
the figure, is a plain end and releases stem cells denoted herein
by the symbol "s." Blood enters reservoir 80 at entry port 78.
Blood entering reservoir 80 mixes with the bubbles formed by
bubbler 76 and therapeutic cell(s) from end 74B and exits mixing
chamber 64 at discharge port 82 in the form of a dispersion.
[0328] In one example, the CO.sub.2 bubbles occlude the capillary
flow.
[0329] In one example, ischemia is induced using a catheter to
inject CO.sub.2 in a stream of tiny bubbles. In one example,
medical grade CO.sub.2 is injected into an artery in a stream of
tiny bubbles having a foam-like consistency. The bubbles in the
foam are sufficiently small to approximate an dispersion of blood
and CO.sub.2. The concentration of CO.sub.2 required to induce
ischemia can be calculated based on the concentration of oxygen
required in the region. A pump or valve can be used to control the
perfusion, or flow rate, of solution into the vasculature.
[0330] According to one theory, the time required to absorb the
CO.sub.2 will effectively reduce the flow rate of the blood and
CO.sub.2 combination. As such, a reduced level of profusion is
established. Reduced level of profusion is established since the
CO.sub.2 displaces the blood flow and the therapeutic cells that
are being introduced.
[0331] According to one theory, CO.sub.2 micro bubbles and
therapeutic cells increase Brownian motion, thus increasing the
opportunity for cells to bump against the surface of the vessel
wall. In one example, the CO.sub.2 micro bubbles and therapeutic
cells forms an dispersion that is delivered in a single continuous
process.
[0332] In one example, the target endothelium is preconditioned by
introducing the CO.sub.2 followed by a bolus of therapeutic cells.
The flow rate can be modulated to achieve a desired engraftment. In
one example, the rate of blood flow is controlled and maintained at
a non-zero level to induce a regional ischemic event.
[0333] A. Microsphere Induced Occlusion
[0334] In one embodiment, a device is placed proximal to the target
infusion tissue. A controlled release of microsphere materials are
released into the vessel. These spheres are delivered to the
capillary bed and occlude or "plug up" the capillary bed. By
plugging up or occluding some of the capillaries, the amount of
oxygen delivered is reduced and ischemia is thereby created. Thus,
an appropriate delay is elapsed, such as the time in which blood in
the target tissue is displaced, to induce controlled ischemic
conditions. In one embodiment, microspheres of 9-15 micron diameter
may be used to occlude capillaries. The microspheres occlusion may
be such that all flow is blocked in the capillary. In this case,
lesser amounts of oxygen may be delivered by adjacent unoccluded
capillaries, thereby creating an ischemic environment. In another
embodiment, the microspheres may block the capillary in such a way
that red blood cells cannot pass through and deliver large amounts
of oxygen, but blood plasma can pass through to deliver very small
amounts of oxygen, again creating an ischemic environment. In one
embodiment, microspheres may reduce oxygen delivery by 50 to 75%.
In another embodiment, the microspheres may reduce oxygen delivery
by 60-95%. In another embodiment, the microspheres may be composed
of a biodegradable or bioabsorbable material that would limit the
duration of the occlusion to a few days. Therapeutic cells are then
introduced into the target tissue and allowed to "soak" for an
appropriate period of time. The spheres are then deactivated, and
normal blood flow resumes to the tissue.
[0335] In one embodiment, this process is controlled by a blocking
balloon on the delivery device.
[0336] In another embodiment, this process is computer controlled
with automatic timing, injections, and monitoring of EKG for proper
and dangerous ischemic conditions.
[0337] In one embodiment, the microspheres are dissolvable and in
one example, are made of bioabsorbable material that is absorbed at
different periods of time. Examples of bio-absorbable materials
include, but is not limited to, degradable polymers such as
polycaprolactone, PLGA poly(lactide-co-glycolide), Polyester-amide,
polyphosphazine, tyrosine carbonate, etc., or Alginate crosslinked
with divalent Ca, Ba or Sr cations. The microspheres may also be
made of an extra-cellular matrix protein such as collagen or
gelatin, crosslinked with glutaraldehyde to prevent quick
dissolution.
[0338] The microspheres occlude the target site and are later
dissolved upon application of energy or after a period of time. For
example, by applying thermal energy, a solvent, ultrasonic energy
or radio frequency energy, the microspheres dissolve. In one
example, the microspheres dissolve upon exposure to a particular
temperature.
[0339] In one example, the fluid flow is temporarily occluded after
infusion of therapeutic cells. In one example, shear forces are
exerted on both the endothelial cells and the therapeutic cells
based on the relative movement there between. Accordingly, as the
flow rate increases, the shearing forces increase. To reduce the
flow rate, a flow resistor is placed in the lumen of the
vasculature. The flow resistor is positioned upstream relative to
the target site, however, in one example, the flow resistor is
positioned downstream.
[0340] In one example, the flow rate is controlled by retro-profuse
cells at the target site. Retro-profusion entails a distal
occlusion which reverses the fluid flow. The reversed fluid flow
occurs as a result of pressure applied to drive the cells up the
vascular bed rather than downstream.
[0341] In various examples, therapeutic cells are delivered through
a catheter. The target vessel is occluded for a brief time period
(three minutes in one example) to induce ischemia at the target
site. Following occlusion, therapeutic cells are delivered.
[0342] In one example, the fluid flow is temporarily stopped and
then immediately thereafter therapeutic cells are infused. In one
example, the vessel is occluded after the time of infusion such
that an effective number of the infused therapeutic cells are
located at the target site when the flow is at a reduced rate. The
target area is a short distance from the infusion site. In one
example, the occlusion is established between approximately 0.5 and
2 seconds after infusion. Times greater or less than 0.5 and 2
seconds are also contemplated. In one example, a majority of
therapeutic cells are at the target site when the occlusion
occurs.
[0343] The therapeutic cells will be spatially distributed in the
vessel soon after the time of infusion. The delay between
therapeutic cell infusion and vessel occlusion is selected to
provide that the bulk of therapeutic cells are in the target region
at the time of vessel occlusion.
[0344] In one example, therapeutic cells are infused in a sequence
of pulses during which the flow rate in the vessel is varied
between fully occluded and no resistance. In such an example, the
therapeutic cells arrive in multiple groups and the occlusion
occurs in a time sequence such that each group briefly pauses for a
period of time as it travels through the target area. In one
example, an estimate of the flow rate informs the decision as to
when the therapeutic cells are injected as a function of the
location of the infusion site relative to the target site and when
the vessel is occluded. A typical flow rate for a healthy heart is
approximately 40 ml per minute which will vary with vessel size and
location. In one example, the flow rate is measured using a sensor
or imaging of the vasculature.
[0345] Various catheter designs can be used to introduce an
ischemia producing agent, such as CO.sub.2. FIGS. 6A and 6B
illustrate one such example tailored to generate small CO.sub.2
bubbles by forcing pressurized CO.sub.2 across a membrane. The
membrane is selected to have a micro porosity to form extremely
small bubbles that float into capillary beds and momentarily plug
the capillary beds to cause ischemia.
[0346] In one method, an artery flowing into the target area for
delivery of therapeutic cells is momentarily plugged for some
predetermined amount of time using CO.sub.2, which causes more
ischemia, which is then followed with therapeutic cell
delivery.
[0347] In various example, the capillary bed is plugged or occluded
either partially or wholly to fluid flow. The capillary bed can be
occluded using a flow resistor as described elsewhere in this
document.
[0348] According to one theory, the CO.sub.2 dispersion flowing
through the vasculature is absorbed in a gas exchange in the lungs
due to vapor pressures.
[0349] In one example, the level of ischemia in a target location
is monitored using a sensor. The sensor output is used in a
feedback loop to control the level of ischemia. The level of
ischemia can be regulated by adjusting the resistance of an element
or by changing a concentration of CO.sub.2 or applied pressure. In
one example, the feedback signal is generated using an oxygen
sensor positioned on the back side of the capillary bed in a
vein.
[0350] According to one theory, introduction of a CO.sub.2
dispersion is effective to create increased Brownian motion.
Brownian motion refers to the random movement of microscopic
particles suspended in liquids or gasses resulting from the impact
of molecules of the fluid surrounding the particle. Brownian motion
causes increased "bumping," which refers to the manner in which the
therapeutic cells travel along the endothelial target area, thus
increasing the likelihood of bonding with an adhesion molecule.
[0351] A catheter having a sponge and a mixing chamber is
illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The catheter includes multiple
lumens and in the example illustrated, one lumen is used to inject
CO.sub.2 and the other lumen is used to inject the therapeutic
cells into the catheter. The first lumen terminates in a sponge
that serves to generate micro bubbles. The mixing chamber receives
the therapeutic cells, blood and the CO.sub.2, thus forming a
dispersion.
[0352] Other examples are also contemplated, including, for
example, a catheter having multiple lumens in which the CO.sub.2,
the therapeutic cells and blood are combined. The CO.sub.2, in
various examples, would be in the form of micro bubbles. A vent is
provided to allow blood to fill into the mixing reservoir. Other
methods and structures are also contemplated for enhancing mixing
in the chamber before delivery to the vasculature.
[0353] According to one example, the CO.sub.2 is injected and mixed
with blood and travels downstream to the target area. The CO.sub.2
causes ischemia of the vessel. In one example, the CO.sub.2 is
introduced in a series of small injections interspersed by delay
periods.
[0354] Other delivery regimens are also contemplated. For example,
after a period of time during which the CO.sub.2 is absorbed and
the blood flow resumes, another bolus of CO.sub.2 is introduced
along with therapeutic cells. The dwell time of the therapeutic
cells can be controlled by the CO.sub.2 delivery regimen. In one
example, a thickener, gel or other agent is added in the mixing
chamber of the catheter to increase the viscosity. An exemplary
thickener includes CO.sub.2 foam, micro spheres or liposomes.
[0355] In one example, micro spheres include small spheres of a
flow occluding substance that can later be dissolved or dispersed.
For example, micro spheres fabricated of albumin (e.g., Optison)
will disperse or dissolve when subjected to an externally applied
field of ultrasonic energy or radio frequency energy. As another
example, micro spheres fabricated of poly(lactide-co-glycolide)
(PLGA) will biodissolve after a period of time.
[0356] According to one theory, the micro spheres occlude or plug
the capillary bed since their dimensions are physically too large
to pass through the bed.
[0357] To form the CO.sub.2 bubbles, CO.sub.2 is forced over a
porous membrane or the sponge. FIG. 6B illustrates gas bubbler 76
fabricated of a sponge material disposed within a reservoir of a
mixing chamber. Other configurations are also contemplated,
including a dual reservoir mixing chamber. In such an example, one
reservoir receives CO.sub.2 and the other reservoir receives the
therapeutic cells. The CO.sub.2 reservoir includes a porous medium
through which bubbles are formed. One lumen is ported to the
chamber. Another port allows blood from the artery to bypass or
flow into the chamber.
[0358] In operation, the catheter perfuses CO.sub.2, blood and
therapeutic cells. In one example, a lumen of a catheter is
terminated with a porous medium through which stem cells, blood and
carbon dioxide bubbles perfuse. In one example, blood enters
through a bypass port and therapeutic cells are injected into a
chamber concurrent with CO.sub.2 bubbling and the mixture is
discharged from the chamber at the distal end of the catheter. In
addition to blood, CO.sub.2 and therapeutic cells, other materials
can be delivered using the catheter of the present subject matter.
For example, a drug or other agent to cause ischemia or otherwise
improve engraftment can be delivered using the present catheter
either with or without the porous medium. The drug or other agent
can be a gaseous, solid or liquid substance.
V. Alternative Examples
[0359] In addition to the examples presented above, other
embodiments are also contemplated.
[0360] In an alternative embodiment, a "therapeutic cell" includes
a therapeutic drug carrier such as a liposome or a polymer particle
with a surface molecule that has an affinity to the lumen surface
of the vasculature.
[0361] In one example, the present subject matter entails surface
recognition through surface tailoring. For example, surface
tailoring of the both the therapeutic cell and the target cell is
employed to enhance engraftment. The surface modification methods
presented elsewhere in this document can be combined
synergistically such that, for example, the therapeutic cell
surfaces are modified to present molecular moiety A (for example,
through genetic modification, surface modification or other
methods) and the lumen surface of the target vasculature area
(endothelial cells) are modified to present molecular moiety B
where moiety A has affinity to moiety B. Moiety A does not
necessarily have an affinity to endothelial surface and moiety B
does not necessarily have an affinity to the surface of the
therapeutic cells). For one example, avidin is conjugated to one
surface and biotin is conjugated to the complementary surface.
Biotin may be conjugated to lysines of membrane proteins present at
the cellular surface using NHS-PEG-biotin molecules. Avidin may be
bound to the biotin present on the cell surface using an additional
incubation in avidin, effectively immobilizing avidin at the cell's
surface.
[0362] All patents and publications referenced or mentioned herein
are indicative of the levels of skill of those skilled in the art
to which the subject matter pertains, and each such referenced
patent or publication is hereby incorporated by reference to the
same extent as if it had been incorporated by reference in its
entirety individually or set forth herein in its entirety.
Applicants reserve the right to physically incorporate into this
specification any and all materials and information from any such
cited patents or publications.
* * * * *
References