CULTURED ADHERENT CELLS FROM MARROW CAN SERVE AS LONG-LASTING PRECURSOR CELLS FOR BONE, CARTILAGE, AND LUNG IN IRRADIATED MICE

Cells from transgenic mice expressing a human mini-gene for collagen I were used as markers to follow the fate of mesenchymal precursor cell s from marrow that were partially enriched by adherence to plastic, ex panded in culture, and then injected into irradiated mice, Sensitive P CR assays for the marker collagen I gene indicated that few of the don or cells were present in the recipient mice after 1 week, but 1-5 mont hs later, the donor cells accounted for 1.5-12% of the cells in bone, cartilage, and lung in addition to marrow and spleen, A PCR in situ as say on lung indicated that the donor cells diffusely populated the par enchyma, and reverse transcription-PCR assays indicated that the marke r collagen I gene was expressed in a tissue-specific manner, The resul ts, therefore, demonstrated that mesenchymal precursor cells from marr ow that are expanded in culture can serve as long-lasting precursors f or mesenchymal cells in bone, cartilage, and lung, They suggest that c ells may be particularly attractive targets for gene therapy ex vivo.