STEM CELL PRODUCTION CORE

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Mesenchymal stem cells or marrow stromal cells (MSCs) are a subset of adult stem cells from bone marrow. These cells are of medical and therapeutic interest because they have been shown to differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes, chondrocytes, myocytes, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and neurons. Due to their inherent plasticity, these cells have the potential to be useful for the treatment of a large number of genetic diseases. Dr. Bunnell has successfully defined the requirements for the expansion and characterization of rhesus macaque MSCs. The Stem Cell Production Core Facility (SCPC) focuses on generation, maintenance and distribution of nonhuman primate MSCs. We routinely prepare MSCs from rhesus macaque bone marrow and adipose tissue samples. We presently have a bank pf MSC cell lines generated from rhesus macaques of varying age prepared and ready for distribution. The SCPC presently has a large impact not only on the Gene Therapy Program, but on other divisions such as Comparative Pathology within the TNPRC, but also Departments and Centers within the Tulane Health Sciences Center and the Pennington Biomedical Research Center and other research labs nationally. The goals of the core are: 1. Prepare continuous supply quality-tested nonhuman primate MSCs for distribution to other investigators. 2. Develop improved methods for isolating and characterizing nonhuman primate MSCs. 3. Prepare MSCs engineered to express various reporter genes (EGFP, ?-galactosidase, luciferase, etc.) 4. Consult with investigator¿s on design of research studies using MSCs.