WO2000050048A2 - Bone marrow transplantation for hepatic regeneration and repair - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for stimulating liver regeneration in subjects with liver disorders. Specifically, the methods and compositions of the invention provide for the transplantation of bone marrow cells into a recipient host in amounts sufficient to result in the production of hepatocytes, bile ductal cells and oval cells during liver regeneration. The invention is based in the observation that bone-marrow derived cells, can participate in the production of hepatocytes, bile ductal cells and oval cells during liver regeneration. The present invention further provides methods for deriving enriched populations of hepatic oval cells, considered to be hepatic stem cells, utilizing antibodies that recognizes the Thy-1 cell surface antigen expressed on the surface of hepatic oval cells. The enriched populations of hepatic oval cells can be transplanted into a host for stimulating liver regeneration in subjects with liver disorders.

Description

BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION FORHEPATIC REGENERATION AND REPAIR

SPECIFICATION

1. INTRODUCTION The present invention relates to methods and compositions for stimulating liver regeneration in subjects with liver disorders. Specifically, the methods and compositions of the invention provide for the transplantation of bone marrow cells into a recipient host in amounts sufficient to result in the production of hepatocytes, bile ductal cells and oval cells during liver regeneration. The invention is based in the observation that bone-marrow derived cells, can participate in the production of hepatocytes, bile ductal cells and oval cells during liver regeneration. The present invention further provides methods for deriving enriched populations of hepatic oval cells, considered to be hepatic stem cells, utilizing antibodies that recognizes the Thy-1 cell surface antigen expressed on the surface of hepatic oval cells. The enriched populations of hepatic oval cells can be transplanted into a host for stimulating liver regeneration in subjects with liver disorders. The present invention, by enabling methods for the transplantation of bone marrow cells and/or oval cells for stimulation of liver regeneration provides a safer alternative to whole liver transplantation in subjects having liver disorders including, but not limited to, cirrhosis of the liver, alcohol induced hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis and alpha_rantitrypsin deficiency.

2. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The origin of the hepatic oval cell has been a topic of considerable interest and controversy for the past several decades. Because oval cells proliferate when hepatocytes are prevented from proliferating in response to liver damage, these cells have been considered to be hepatic stem cells, or the intermediate progeny of a hepatic stem cell. The prevailing opinion is that oval cells originate either from cells ^"WO 00/50048 PCT/US00/04744 .-

2 present in the canals of Herring ( Grisham, J.W. and Thorgiersson, S.S. in Stem Cells, C.S. Potter, Ed. (Academic Press, San Diego, CA 1997) pp. 233-282) or from blastlike cells located next to bile ducts (Novikoff, P.M. et al., 1996, Am J. Pathol. 148: 1473 ). Oval cells are not easily detected in normal livers. In certain pathological 5 conditions, however, in which an inhibition of hepatocyte proliferation is followed by severe hepatic injury, oval cells are readily apparent due to their active proliferation. In recognized experimental animal models, hepatocyte proliferation is generally suppressed by exposure of the animal to 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) and, subsequently, hepatic injury is usually induced by partial hepatectomy (PHx) or by

10 administration of carbon tetrachloride (CC1₄) (Evarts, R.P., et al., 1989, Cancer Res. 49:1541; Petersen, B.E. et al, 1998, Hepatology 27:1030). Oval cells have been observed in organs other than the liver, such as the pancreas of rats fed a copper- deficient diet (Bartles, J.R. et al., 1991, J Cell Science 98:45; Rao, M.S. and Reddy, J.K., 1995, Seminars in Cell Biology 6:151).

15 Throughout life, hepatic and hematopoietic cells intermingle and appear to be interdependent. During fetal life, hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) move out of the yolk sac and take up residency in the liver, and until the time of birth, the liver functions as a hematopoietic organ (Baker, J.E. et al., 1969, J Cell Physiol 74:51 ; Moore, M.S. et al., 1970, Br J Haematol 18:279). This function ceases in the neonate,

20 but under certain conditions it can be reactivated in the form of extra-medullary hematopoiesis (Tsamanda, A.C., 1995, Modern Pathol 8:671). The adult liver has been shown to harbor a significant number of HSC (Hayes, E.F. et al., 1975, J Cell Physiol 86:213), and it has been shown that the bone marrow of lethally irradiated animals can be reconstituted by whole liver transplantation (Murase N et al., 1996

25 Transplantation 61 :1).

Hematopoietic activity and erythropoietic cells have been shown to reappear in the liver during liver regeneration following a partial hepatectomy (Naugton, B.A. et al., 1982, Exp Hematol 10:451 : Barbera-Guillem, E. et al., 1989 Hepatology 9:29; Sakamoto, T., et al, 1992, Reg Immunol 4:1). It has also been

30 shown that cultured rat hepatocytes can produce granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, a known hematopoietic cytokine (Sakamoto, T. et al., 1991, Reg ^"WO 00/50048 PCT/US00/04744 _ -

3

Immunol 3:260). Recently, oval cells were found to express CD34, Thy-1 and c-kit mRNAs and proteins (Petersen, B. et al., 1998, Hepatology 27:433; Omori, N. et al, 1997, Hepatology 26:720; Fujio, K. et al., 1994, Lab Invest 70:511). These antigens are known to be expressed on HSC. In addition, oval cells express t^"t-3 receptor 5 mRNA, which in humans and mice has been reported to be restricted to populations of hematopoietic progenitor cells (Omori, M. et al., 1997, Am J Pathol 150:1179). The adult mammalian liver can therefore be considered a potential hematopoietic organ.

3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides methods and compositions for 10 stimulating liver regeneration in subjects with liver disorders. The compositions and methods of the invention provide for the transplantation of bone marrow cells into a recipient in amounts sufficient to result in the production of hepatocytes, bile ductal cells and oval cells during liver regeneration. The invention is based on the observation that bone-marrow derived cells, can participate in the production of 15 hepatocytes, bile ductal cells and oval cells during liver regeneration.

The present invention further provides methods for deriving enriched populations of hepatic oval cells, considered to be hepatic stem cells, utilizing antibodies that recognizes the Thy-1 cell surface antigen expressed on the surface of hepatic oval cells. The enriched populations of hepatic oval cells may also be utilized 20 in methods directed to regeneration of liver tissue.

The present invention also provides compositions for use in stimulating liver regeneration comprising bone marrow cells and/or hepatic oval cells in a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier. The compositions of the invention may be utilized for treatment of subjects with liver disorders where the stimulation of liver 25 regeneration is desired. Such disorders include cirrhosis of the liver, alcohol-induced hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, alpha, -antitrypsin deficiency and liver cancer.

In an embodiment of the invention, the bone marrow derived stem cells and/or hepatic oval cells may be genetically engineered, prior to transplantation, to 30 enable them to produce a wide range of proteins, including but not limited to, growth factors, cytokines, or biologically active molecules, such as hormones. In this way, any new liver tissue derived from the transplanted stem cells or hepatic oval cells will produce the desired biologically active protein.

The invention further relates to the in vitro attachment of stem cells or hepatic oval cells to a matrix prior to transplantation for the purpose of increasing the viability and growth of the transplanted cells. In addition, the matrix may be composed of additional materials including other types of cells or biologically active molecules.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1. PCR analysis of DNA from female rats transplanted with bone marrow from the femurs of male donors rats. The data presented here show that the transplanted animals tested positive for the Y chromosome in both the Thyl.r and Thy 1.1^" sub-populations of non-parenchymal cells (NPC) at both days tested. The Thy- 1^' fraction shows strong signal probably due to the presence of hematopoietic cells. After successful BMTx, presumably the mature (differentiated) male hematopoietic cells could be found in the NPC population. The mature hematopoietic (i.e. Kupffer cells, monocytes, etc.) cells will be negative for Thy-1, but positive for the Y chromosome. Note the Day 13 fraction of hepatocytes are now expressing the Y chromosome PCR product. This is the time point when oval cells begin to make the transition to hepatocytes. As noted in the text, the Day 9 hepatocyte fraction was negative for the Y chromosome. This would be expected in the prevailing view of the timing events in the cascade of oval cell proliferation and differentiation. The control female DNA as well as the non transplanted female DNA is negative for Y chromosome expression. The β-actin product reveals that the DNA was present and intact.

FIGURE 2 A-C. Photomicrographs of in situ hybridizations of the Y chromosome sry gene performed on frozen liver sections. The arrows indicate positive reaction in the nucleus of hepatocytes. A, untreated control normal male rat (positive control); B, female treated with BMTx and the 2-AFF/CCl₄ protocol and sacrificed at day 13 following hepatic injury; and C, untreated female (negative control). It should be noted that the color reaction-time for the untreated female was 45 minute, whereas the color reaction-time for both the male and the BMTx/2- AAF/CC1₄ treated female was only 5 minutes. The magnification of all the photomicrographs is 1000X. FIGURE 3 A-F. DPPIV activity in frozen liver sections. A, untreated

DPPIV⁺ rat used as a positive control. A diffuse decoration of the bile ductular site of hepatocytes is evident (orange color). B, untreated DPPIV^" rat showing a complete absence of DPPIV activity (negative control). C-F are four different BMTx (male DPPIV⁺ donor) DPPIV^" rat (recipient) exposed to the 2-AAF/CCl₄ protocol for oval cell induction and sacrificed at day 11 or day 13 following hepatic injury. A positive reaction is evident not only between hepatocytes from all four animals, but also a on a few oval or transitional cells (D and E). The DPPIV staining can appear as a line (open arrowheads) or as a dot (closed arrowheads) depending the plane of the section through the bile cannilcuar region. In all cases there are clusters of cells (2-5) expressing the DPPIV marker. Hepatocytes that are from donor origins are denoted by *. Original magnifications, 200x.

FIGURE 4 A-B. Sections from two Brown-Norway rat livers, transplanted into Lewis recipient rats, sacrificed 11 days (A) and 13 days (B) after CC1₄ administration in the oval cell induction protocol. The sections were immunostained with an L21-6 mAb. Positive oval cells (arrow heads) and positive cells in ductal structures (arrows) can be seen. Original magnifications, A, 1 OOx, and B, 200x.

FIGURE 5 A-D. Frozen liver section showing double immunofluorscence staining of a periportal region in a Brown-Norway liver transplanted into a Lewis recipient rat (A). Green fluorescence: anti L21-6, a recipient marker; red fluorescence: anti OC-2, an oval cell and a mature ductal cell marker. When the two antibodies are in close proximity, the light waves mix and the emitted fluorescence is yellow. Oval cells co-expressing the two markers are evident (arrows). Other cells can be seen that express only L21-6 (presumably inflammatory cells), or only OC.2 (oval cells that could have been derived from, L21-6 negative precursor-cells resident in the Brown-Norway liver). B-D shows a frozen section of a Brown-Norway liver transplanted into a Lewis recipient rat and put on the 2- AAF/CC1₄ protocol, day 13 after CC1₄ exposure. Centered in the photomicrograph is a ductal structure (B-D), the same type of structure seen in Figure 4A. Double immunofluorscence staining was performed using anti-L21-6 (B) and anti-OC-2 (D). Merged images of the L21-6 and OC-2 immunofluorescence staining are shown in the middle photomicrograph (C). Cells expressing both antigens are yellow (C). As a point of origin, * indicates the center of the bile duct. The origin of the cells within this duct is extrahepatic because they are positive for L21-6, which makes them recipient derived cells. Arrows in B-D indicate the same cell in all three photomicrographs. Bars represent 10 μm in length.

FIGURE 6. Time line of events for activation of oval cell proliferation. The presence of 2-AAF is necessary to suppress hepatocyte proliferation and to allow extended proliferation of oval cells. The diagram represents the different stages of oval cell proliferation. FIGURE 7 A-B. Liver section obtained from a rat on day 11 on the 2-

AAF/CC1₄ protocol. Sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Centered in the photomicrograph is a portal triad (PT). The small oval cells (arrows) can be seen between the larger hepatocytes. (Original magnification [A] XI 00; [B] X200.)

FIGURE 8 A-D. Immunohistochemistry for BrdU incorporation on liver sections obtained from animals on the 2-AAF/CCl₄ protocol at various time points post-hepatic injury. (A) Day 9; (B) day 11; (C) day 13; and (D) positive control for BrdU at the 24-hour Phx time point. The peak of proliferation occurs at day 9, with a drastic drop-off of labeling on subsequent days. The day 13 time point is also represented in Fig. 8. HV, hepatic vein. (Original magnification [A-D] X200.) FIGURE 9 A-B. Frozen liver sections obtained from normal rat liver.

Histological appearance of liver section stained with (A) Thy 1.1 antibody and (B) OC.2 antibody. Normal rat liver was used as a negative control for immunostaining procedures. Thy 1.1 expression cannot be detected in a normal adult liver, and OC.2 can be detected only on the ductular epithelium in the portal triads. The portal triad region (PT) and central vein region (CV) are designated in the lobule. (Original magnification X40.) FIGURE 10 A-F. Frozen serial sections from rat liver exposed to the 2-AAF/CCl₄ protocol (day 21). (A and D) Immunohistochemical expression of CK- 19. (B and E) expression of OC.2. (C and F) Expression of Thy 1.1 staining as can be seen at lower magnification (A-C), CK-19, OC.2, and Thy 1.1 exhibit nearly the same staining pattern. At higher magnification (D-F), the individual oval cells stain positive for each antibody. Open arrows in (A-C) indicate the reference point at which the photomicrographs of higher magnifications were taken. Solid arrows in (D- F) show individual oval cells positively stained for the appropriate antibody. It should be noted that the ductular epithelium is now staining positive for Thy-1. In normal liver, this is not the case. This same result can be seen in Fig. 6 as well. (Original magnification [A-C] X40; [D-F] X200.)

FIGURE 11 A-F. Frozen serial sections from rat liver exposed to 2- AAF/PHx protocol (day 13). (A and D) Immunohistochemical expression of CK-19. (B and E) Expression of OC.2. (C and F) Expression of Thy 1.1 staining. At lower magnification (A-C), CK-19, OC.2, and Thyl.l exhibit nearly the same staining pattern. At higher magnification (D-F), the individual oval cells stain positive for each antibody. Open arrows in (A-C) indicate the reference point at which the photomicrographs of higher magnifications were taken. Solid arrows in (D-F) show individual oval cells positively stained for the appropriate antibody. This figure illustrates that, in this model, there are no inflammatory cells to confound the issue as to which cell type is expressing Thy-1. Staining patterns are alike for all three markers, and this pattern is similar to what is seen in the 2-AAF/CCl₄ model. (Original magnification [A-C] X40; [D-F] X200.)

FIGURE 12 A-D. Profiles of NPC fraction obtained from perfused rat liver exposed to the 2-AAF/CCl₄ protocol. Cells were labeled with Thy 1.1 -FITC antibody and sorted by flow cytometry. Cells were separated into two factions: (A) right gate, Thy-l⁺-labeled cells and (B) left gate, Thy-1^" cells. Histograms revealed that 95% to 97% purity could be obtained for Thy-l.l⁺ cells, while 99% purity could be achieved for negative cells. (C) Sorted Thy 1.1⁺ cells were stained with PI, and flow cytometric cell cycle analysis was performed. Analysis revealed that 94% Thyl. cells are in the G0/G1 (resting) stage of the cell cycle. (D) Thy-1 -labeled ΛVO 00/50048 PCT/US00/04744 ----

8 cells (dark solid line) that are in the G0/G1 stage of the cell cycle (dashed line). Approximately 90% of the resting cells are Thy-1⁺.

FIGURE 13 A-B. Immunohistochemistry of liver section obtained from a day 13 2-AAF/CCl₄ rat. (A) BrdU staining of oval cells in the proliferative

5 state. Very few cells are positively stained, which may represent the small peak of cells in the G2/M phase seen in Fig. 7C and 7D. The ductular formation (BD) is devoid of any BrdU staining. (B) Liver section stained for PCNA also shows little or no PCNA staining. This corroborates the BrdU staining. Both of these stains document that the majority of oval cells taken at this time point are not in a

10 proliferative state. © and D) The corresponding positive controls for BrdU and PCNA staining on rat liver sections from the 24-hour Phx time point. Arrows indicate individual oval cells. (Original magnification [A-D] XI 00.)

FIGURE 14 A-H. Cytocentrifuged preparation of Thy 1.1 ⁺ sorted cells from 2-AAF/CCl₄-treated rats. Thy-1.1⁺ were stained with oval cell-specific

15 antibodies. (A) Hematoxylin-eosin stain. (B) A representative of negative control (omission of primary antibody). (C-F) AFP, CK-19, GGT, and OV6 staining, respectively. The majority of the Thy-1⁺ cells were positive for oval cell-specific markers. (G) A representative of cells stained for desmin. All photomicrographs are at 100X magnification. (H) Dual staining of oval cells. AFP-Texas Red (red) and

20 Thy 1. l^'-FITC (green) showing both markers on the same cells. Where the two antibodies are in close proximity to each other, the wavelengths mix and the resulting fluorescence is yellow. Photomicrograph for (H) was obtained using confocal microscopy.

FIGURE 15 A-E. Cytocentrifuged preparation of Thy 1.1^" sorted cells

25 from 2-AAF/CCl₄-treated rats. The Thy-1^" cells were also stained with oval cell antibodies. (A) Hematoxylin-eosin stain. (B and D) Cells stained for AFP and GGT, respectively. The corresponding negative controls are shown in (C) and (E). All photomicrographs are at 200X magnification.

FIGURE 16 A-F. (16A) Normal Rat Spleen. DPPIV positive cells

30 with stain with a reddish/burn orange color. Notice that the white pulp region of the spleen is devoid of stain. 1 Ox objective. (16B) Normal Rat Spleen. DPPIV positive ΛVO 00/50048 PCT/US00/04744 _ _

9 cells with stain with a reddish/burn orange color. Notice that the white pulp region of the spleen is devoid of stain. 20x objective. (16C) Experimental DPPIV deficient rat transplanted with DPPIV positive bone marrow. Spleen 60 days post BMTx. Notice the reddish/burn orange staining present throughout the spleen. The white pulp region 5 is now showing a large number of cells positive for DPPIV. 4x objective. (16D) Experimental DPPIV deficient rat transplanted with DPPIV positive bone marrow. Spleen 60 days post BMTx. Notice the reddish/burn orange staining present throughout the spleen. The white pulp region is now showing a large number of cells positive for DPPIV. 1 Ox objective.

10 FIGURE 17A-D. ( 17A) Normal Rat pancreas. DPPIV positive cells with stain with a reddish/burn orange color. 1 Ox objective. (17B) Normal Rat pancreas. DPPIV positive cells with stain with a reddish/burn orange color. 20x objective. (17C) DPPIV deficient rat pancreas. No staining is visible throughout the section. lOx objective. (17D) DPPIV deficient rat pancreas. No staining is visible

15 throughout the section. 20x objective. (17E) Experimental DPPIV deficient rat transplanted with DPPIV positive bone marrow. Pancreas 60 days post BMTx. Notice there are a few reddish/burn orange cells staining positive in the pancreas. lOx objective. (17F) Experimental DPPIV deficient rat transplanted with DPPIV positive bone marrow. Pancreas 60 days post BMTx. Notice there are a few reddish/burn

20 orange positive cells present in the pancreas. 20x objective.

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to methods and compositions for stimulating liver regeneration in a subject having a liver disorder. The invention provides methods and compositions for transplanting of bone marrow cells into a 25 recipient host in amounts sufficient to result in the production of hepatocytes, bile ductal cells and oval cells during liver regeneration.

In a specific embodiment of the invention, bone marrow cells are administered to a subject in need of new liver tissue. The bone marrow cells can be injected into the recipient, wherein the bone marrow cells will migrate to the liver, 30 undergo proliferation, and differentiation leading to the production of new liver tissue containing hepatocytes, bile ductal cells and oval cells. Alternatively, the bone marrow cells may be transplanted directly into the liver where the cells will proliferate and differentiate to form new liver tissue.

The compositions of the invention comprise bone marrow cells in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for administration into a recipient host in need of new liver tissue. The bone marrow cells may also be genetically engineered to enable them to produce a wide range of functionally active proteins, such as for example, growth factors, cytokines and hormones. The compositions of the invention also comprise bone marrow cells on a support matrix for transplantation into the liver. The matrix may further comprise growth factors capable of stimulating the proliferation and/or differentiation of hepatic stem cells or other types of cells.

The invention further relates to methods for enriching for populations of hepatic oval cells, a hepatic stem cell, using the Thy-1 cell surface antigen as an antibody tag. Once purified, the oval cells may be transplanted into a recipient in need of new liver tissue. The hepatic oval cells may be transplanted directly into the liver of the recipient where the hepatic oval cells will undergo proliferation, and differentiation leading to the production of new liver tissue containing hepatocytes, bile ductual cells and oval cells. Alternatively, the cells may be injected into the portal vein where the cells will go directly to the liver. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the hepatic oval cells may be injected into the spleen followed by migration to the liver.

5.1. SOURCES OF BONE MARROW CELLS Bone marrow cells may be obtained from a variety of different donor sources. In a preferred embodiment, autologous bone marrow is obtained from the subject who is to receive the bone marrow cells. This approach is especially advantageous since the immunological rejection of foreign tissue and/or a graft versus host response is avoided. In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, allogenic bone marrow may be obtained from donors who are genetically related to the recipient and share the same transplantation antigens on the surface of their blood cells. Alternatively, if a related donor is unavailable, bone marrow from antigenically matched (identified through a national registry) donors may be used.

Bone marrow cells can be obtained from the donor by standard bone marrow aspiration techniques known in the art. For example, bone marrow cells can be removed from the donor by placing a hollow needle into the marrow space and withdrawing a quantity of marrow cells by aspiration. Alternatively, peripheral stem cells can be obtained from a donor, for example, by standard phlebotomy or apheresis techniques. For convenience, the following embodiments of the invention are described for bone marrow cells, although it should be understood that peripheral stem cells may be used as equivalent to bone marrow cells.

Before administration into the recipient, bone marrow cell populations maybe enriched for stem cells by selecting for cells that express stem cell surface antigens such as Thy-1, CD34, E/t-3 ligand and c-kit, in combination with purification techniques such as immuno-magnetic bead purification, affinity chromatography and fluorescence activated cell sorting. In addition, where the possibility of a graft versus host response exists, the stem cells to be administered to the recipient can be T-cell depleted to prevent the development of a graft versus host response. The cell population maybe depleted of T-cells by one of many methods known to one skilled in the art (e.g., Blazer et al., 1985, Experimental Hematology 13:123-128). Prior to transplantation into the recipient host, the bone marrow cells may be stimulated with a number of different growth factors that can regulate tissue regeneration by affecting cell proliferation, differentiation and gene expression. Such growth factors include those capable of stimulating the proliferation and/or differentiation of bone marrow cells and hepatic progenitor cells. For example, epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor α (TGF-α) or hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) may be utilized. The bone marrow cells may be stimulated in vitro prior to transplantation into the recipient subject. Alternatively, the stem cells may be stimulated in vivo by injecting the recipient with such growth factors following transplantation. The present methods and compositions can also employ bone marrow cells genetically engineered to enable them to produce a wide range of functionally active biologically active proteins, including but not limited to growth factors, cytokines, hormones, inhibitors of cytokines, peptide growth and differentiation factors. Methods which are well known to those skilled in the art can be used to construct expression vectors containing a nucleic acid encoding the protein coding region of interest operatively linked to appropriate transcriptional/translational control signals. See, for example, the techniques described in Sambrook, et al., 1992, Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manuel, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, N.Y., and Ausebel et al., 1989, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing Associates & Wiley Interscience, N.Y. In addition, stem cells may be attached in vitro to a natural or synthetic matrix that provides support for the transplanted cells prior to transplantation. The type of matrix that may be used in the practice of the invention is virtually limitlessness. The matrix will have all the features commonly associated with being "biocompatible", in that it is in a form that does not produce an adverse, or allergic reaction when administered to the recipient host. Growth factors capable of stimulating the growth and regeneration of liver tissue may also be incorporated into the matrices. Such matrices may be formed from both natural or synthetic materials and may be designed to allow for sustained release of growth factors over prolonged periods of time. Thus, appropriate matrices will both provide growth factors and also act as an in situ scaffolding in which the transplanted cells differentiate and proliferate to form new liver tissue. In preferred embodiments, it is contemplated that a biodegradable matrix that is capable of being reabsorbed into the body will likely be most useful.

To improve stem cell adhesion to the matrix, and survival and function of the stem cell, the matrix may optionally be coated on its external surface with factors known in the art to promote cell adhesion, growth or survival. Such factors include cell adhesion molecules, extra cellular matrix molecules and/or growth factors.

The present invention also relates to the use of bone marrow cells in three dimensional cell and tissue culture systems to form structures analogous to liver tissue counterparts in vivo. Cells cultured on a three-dimensional culture system will grow in multiple layers, forming new liver tissue. The resulting liver tissue will survive for prolonged periods of time, and perform liver-specific functions following transplantation into the recipient host. Methods for producing such structures is described, e.g., in US Patent No. 5,624,840, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

5.2 METHODS FOR ENRICHMENT OF HEPATIC OVAL CELLS

The present invention also provides methods for deriving an enriched population of hepatic oval cells from liver tissue using a Thy-1 specific antibody. This aspect of the invention is based on the observation that hepatic oval cells express high levels of Thy-1 on their cell surface.

Hepatic oval cells may be obtained from a variety of different donor sources. Depending on the degree of liver damage, enriched populations of autologous hepatic oval cells may be derived from the tissue of the subject who is to receive the transplanted hepatic oval cells. This approach avoids the immunological rejection of foreign tissue. In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, allogenic liver tissue for use in purifying hepatic oval cells may be obtained from donors who are genetically related to the recipient and share the same transplantation antigens on the surface of their blood cells. Alternatively, if a sibling is unavailable, tissue may be derived from antigenically matched (identified through a national registry) donors.

In an embodiment of the invention, hepatic oval cells are isolated from a disaggregated liver tissue biopsy. This may be readily accomplished using techniques known to those skilled in the art. For example, the liver tissue can be disaggregated mechanically and/or treated with digestive enzymes and/or chelating agents that weaken the connections between neighboring cells, making it possible to disperse the tissue suspension of individual cells. Enzymatic dissociation can be carried out by mincing the liver tissue and treating the minced tissue with any of a number of digestive enzymes . Such enzymes include, but are not limited to, trypsin, chymotrpsin, collagenase, elastase and/or hylauronidase. A review of tissue disaggregation technique is provided in, e.g., Freshney, Culture of Animal Cells, A Manual of Basic Technique, 2d Ed., A.R. Liss, Inc., New York, 1987, Ch. 9, pp.107- 126.

Following preparation of a single cell suspension, Thy 1.1 -positive cells, which represent the hepatic oval cell population of cells may be purified from the Thy 1-1 -negative population of cells using a variety of different methods. Such procedures involve a positive selection, such as passage of sample cells over a column containing anti-Thy-1 antibodies or binding of cells to magnetic bead conjugated anti- Thyl antibodies or by panning on anti-Thy-1 antibody coated plates and collecting the bound cells. Alternatively, the single cell suspension may be exposed to a labeled antibody that immuno-specifically binds to the Thy 1-1 cell surface antigen. Following incubation, with the Thy 1.1 antibody, the cells are rinsed in buffer to remove any unbound antibody. Hepatic oval cells expressing the Thy 1-1 cell surface antigen can then be cell sorted by fluorescence-activated cell sorting using, for example, a Becton Dickinson FACStar flow cytometer. Prior to transplantation into the recipient host, the hepatic oval cells may be contacted with a number of different growth factors that can regulate tissue regeneration by affecting cell proliferation, and gene expression. Such growth factors include those capable of stimulating the proliferation and/or differentiation of hepatic progenitor cells. For example, epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor α (TGF-α) or hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) may be utilized. The hepatic oval cells may be stimulated in vitro prior to transplantation into the recipient subject, or alternatively, by injecting the recipient with growth factors following transplantation.

The present methods and compositions may employ hepatic oval cells genetically engineered to enable them to produce a wide range of functionally active biologically active proteins including, but not limited to, growth factors, cytokines, hormones, inhibitors of cytokines, peptide growth and differentiation factors. Methods which are well known to those skilled in the art can be used to construct expression vectors containing a nucleic acid encoding the protein of interest linked to appropriate transcriptional/translational control signals. See, for example, the techniques described in Sambrook, et al., 1992, Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manuel, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, N.Y., and Ausebel et al., 1989, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing Associates & Wiley Interscience, N.Y.

In addition, hepatic oval cells may be attached in vitro to a natural or synthetic matrix that provides support for the transplanted hepatic oval cells prior to transplantation. The matrix will have all the features commonly associated with being "biocompatible", in that it is in a form that does not produce an adverse, or allergic reaction when administered to the recipient host. Growth factors capable of stimulating the growth and regeneration of liver tissue may also be incorporated into matrices. Such matrices may be formed from both natural or synthetic materials and may be designed to allow for sustained release of growth factors over prolonged periods of time. Thus, appropriate matrices will both provide growth factors and also act as an in situ scaffolding in which the hepatic oval cells differentiate and proliferate to form new liver tissue. In preferred embodiments, it is contemplated that a biodegradable matrix that is capable of being reabsorbed into the body will likely be most useful.

To improve oval cell adhesion to the matrix, and survival and function of the stem cell, the matrix may optionally be coated in its external surface with factors known in the art to promote cell adhesion, growth or survival. Such factors include cell adhesion molecules, extra cellular matrix molecules or growth factors. The present invention also relates to the use of hepatic oval cells in three dimensional cell and tissue culture systems to form structures analogous to liver tissue counterparts in vivo. The resulting liver tissue will survive for prolonged periods of time, and perform liver-specific functions following transplantation into the recipient host. Methods for producing such structures is described in US Patent No. 5624,840, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

5.3. ADMINISTRATION OF BONE MARROW

STEM CELLS OR HEPATIC OVAL CELLS The bone marrow cells and/or enriched oval cells can be administered to the recipient in an effective amount to achieve its intended purpose. More specifically, an effective amount means an amount sufficient to lead to the development of new liver tissue and restoration of liver function, thereby alleviating the symptoms associated with liver disorders.

The number of cells needed to achieve the purposes of the present invention will vary depending on the degree of liver damage and the size, age and weight of the host. For example, the cells are administered in an amount effective to restore liver function. The dose range of cells to be used in the practice of the invention may vary between 10⁵ - 10¹⁰ cells, although the preferable dose of administered cells will be between 10⁶ - 10⁸. It may be necessary to use dosages outside these ranges in some cases, as will be apparent to those of skill in the art.

Determination of effective amounts is well within the capability of those skilled in the art. The effective dose may be determined by using a variety of different assays designed to detect restoration of liver function. The progress of the transplant recipient can be determined using assays that include blood tests known as liver function tests. Such liver function tests include assays for alkaline phosphates, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and bilirubin. In addition, recipients can be examined for presence or disappearance of features normally associated with liver disease such as, for example, jaundice, anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, increased heart rate, and high levels of insulin. Further, imaging tests such as ultrasound, computer assisted tomography (CAT) and magnetic resonance (MR) may be used to assay for liver function.

The bone marrow cells and/or enriched oval cells can be administered to the recipient in one or more physiologically acceptable carriers. Carriers for these cells may include, but are not limited to, solutions of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) containing a mixture of salts in physiologic concentrations. In addition, the cells may be associated with a matrix prior to administration into the recipient host.

In an embodiment of the invention, the bone marrow cells and/or hepatic oval cells can be administered by intravenous infusion. The cells to be injected, are drawn up into a syringe and injected into the recipient host. In such instances the cells would be expected to migrate to the recipient's liver where they will differentiate and proliferate to form new liver tissue.

Alternatively, the methods of the present invention encompass administration of the bone marrow cells and/or hepatic oval cells into the recipient so as to become located in the liver. The administration of the stem cells and/or hepatic oval cells, is accomplished by conventional techniques such as injection of cells into the recipient host liver, injection into the portal vein, or surgical transplantation of cells into the recipient host liver. In some instances it may be necessary to administer the stem cells and/or hepatic oval more than once to restore liver function. In addition, growth factors, such as G-CSF, or hormones, may be administered to the recipient prior to and following transplantation for the purpose of priming the recipients liver and blood to accept the transplanted cells and/or to generate an environment supportive of hepatic cell proliferation.

5.4. USE OF BONE MARROW CELLS FOR REGENERATION OF TISSUE. OTHER THAN LIVER TISSUE

In yet another embodiment of the invention, bone marrow cells may be used for regeneration of tissues other than liver tissue. Specifically, the methods and compositions of the invention provide for the transplantation of bone-marrow stem cells into a recipient host in amounts sufficient to result in tissue regeneration other than liver regeneration. The invention is based on the observation that bone-marrow derived cells can participate in the production of not only liver cells, but pancreatic cells as well.

The methods of the present invention encompass administration of the bone marrow cells into the recipient host so as to become located in the organ or tissue in which regeneration is desired. The administration of the stem cells into the desired region is accomplished by conventional techniques such as injection of cells within the recipient host or surgical transplantation of cells within the recipient host. In some instances it may be necessary to administer the stem cells more than once to restore the desired tissue function. In a specific embodiment of the invention, bone marrow cells may be transplanted into the pancreas of a recipient subject in need of new pancreatic tissue. Such subjects include those having pancreatic disorders such as acute or chronic pancreatitis or carcinomas of the pancreas. The bone marrow cells can be administered to the recipient in one or more physiologically acceptable carriers, in an effective amount to achieve its intended purpose. More specifically, an effective amount means an amount sufficient to lead to the development of new pancreatic tissue and restoration of pancreatic function, thereby alleviating the symptoms associated with the pancreatic disorders.

6. EXAMPLE: BONE MARROW CELLS PARTICIPATE IN THE

PRODUCTION OF HEPATOCYTES, BILE DUCTAL CELLS AND OVAL CELLS DURING LIVER

REGENERATION

The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that oval cells and other liver cells may arise from a cell population originating in, or associated with, the bone marrow. This hypothesis was tested by three approaches: i) bone marrow transplantation (BMTx) from male rats into lethally irradiated syngeneic females, and detection of donor cells in the recipients by means of DNA probes to the Y chromosome sry region; ii) BMTx from Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV positive (DPPIV⁺) male rats into DPPIV syngeneic females, and detection of DPPIV-expressing cells in the recipient animals; and iii) whole liver transplantation (WLTx) using Lewis rats that express the L21-6 antigen as recipients, and Brown-Norway (Brown-Norway) rats that do not express this antigen as allogenic donors, in order to confirm that an extra- hepatic source (L21-6⁺ cells) could repopulate the transplanted (L21-6^" cells) liver. In conjunction with these approaches, the 2-AAF/CCl₄ protocol was used to induce oval cell activation and proliferation. Hepatocyte proliferation is generally suppressed by exposure of an animal to 2-acetylaminoflourane (2-AAF) and subsequently hepatic injury is induced by administration of carbon tetrachloride. In situ hybridization, PCR, and immunohisto- and cytochemical techniques were used to distinguish donor cells from recipient cells.

6.1. MATERIALS AND METHODS 6.1.1. BONE MARROW AND WHOLE LIVER TRANSPLANTATION Bone marrow transplantation (BMTx) was performed as previously described (Murase, N. et al., 1996, Transplantation 61 :1) with minor modifications. In one set of experiments (Set 1 , two separate experiments), bone marrow from male F-344 rats was transplanted into lethally irradiated syngeneic female F-344 rats (n = 10 animals). The females were given 10.5 Gy from a ¹³⁷Cesium source (JL Shepherd Mark I), and then rescued by injecting about 60 x 10⁶ male bone marrow cells via the tail vein. After allowing establishment of a chimeric system (about 30-45 days), the animals were tested to see if the donor cells had engrafted. PCR analysis was performed on DNA extracted from the buffy coat of nucleated cells obtained from retinal orbital blood (ROB). All animals survived the transplant procedure, but varying degrees of intensity for chimerism, was evident. Only those animals that expressed a strong signal for the Y chromosome PCR product were placed on the 2- AAF/CC1₄ protocol for oval cell induction. The animals were sacrificed 9-13 days after CC1₄ administration. In a second set of BMTx experiments (Set 2), bone marrow from male F-344 rats expressing the DPPIV enzyme was transplanted into lethally irradiated DPPIV^" syngeneic female F-344 rats, which were then further treated as above. Ten female rats were successfully transplanted in Set 1, and fourteen female rats in Set 2.

Whole liver transplantation (WLTx) was performed as previously described (Murase, N et al., 1995, Transplantation 60:158). Brown-Norway rats were used as donors of whole liver tissue, and Lewis rats as recipients. The L21-6 monoclonal antibody specific for Lewis rats was used to distinguish immunohistochemically donor cells from recipient cells (Yagihashi et al., 1995, Transplantation Proceedings 27: 1519). Once the rats recovered from the WLTx (about two months), the animals were placed on the 2-AAF/CCl₄ protocol for induction of oval cells as described below. In this experiment six Lewis rats were successfully transplanted; of these, three animals survived until completion of the study.

6.1.2. ANIMALS F-344 male and female rats were obtained from Frederick Laboratories (Frederick, MD) as marrow donors and recipients. DPPIV^" female F-344 rats were a gift from Dr. Sanjeev Gupta, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY. All procedures involving animals were conducted according to institutionally approved protocols.

6.1.3. INDUCTION OF OVAL CELLS 2-AAF time-release pellets were prepared (70 mg, 2.5 mg/day release for 28 days) as described by Hixson et al. (Hixson D.C. et al., 1990, Pathobiology 58:65) and inserted subcutaneously in the rats 7 days prior to administration of CC1₄. The animals were sacrificed, and tissue samples were obtained at various time points thereafter. CC1₄ was injected intraperitoneally (i.p) as a single dose of 1.9 ml/kg (1500 mg/kg) b.w. of a 1: 1 (vol/vol) solution in corn oil; this dose was calculated on the basis of the LD₅₀ dose (RJ. Lewis, Sr., Ed., SAX Dangerous Properties of Industrial Material (Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, NY. 1993), pp. 52 and 1149, eighth edition).

6.1.4. PCR ANALYSIS PCR analysis for the Y chromosome was performed on DNA extracted from transplanted and non-transplanted female animals using primers for the sry gene of the Y chromosome (An, J. et al, 1997, J Andrology 18:289). The primer sequences are as follows: 5'-CATCGAAGGGTTAAAGTGCCA-3' and 5^*-ATAGTGTGTAGGTTGTTGTCC-3\ These primers amplify a 549-bp nucleic acid product that has been shown to be very specific for the Y chromosome with no reactivity to female DNA. PCR was performed as previously described (An, J. et al., 1996, Experimental Hematology 24:768). Human β-actin primers from Clonetec Laboratories (Palo Alto, CA), included to ensure that each sample of DNA was intact, produce an expected product of approximately 1000 base pairs in length (DeFrances, M.C., 1992, Development 116:387).

6.1.5. CELL ISOLATION Hepatocytes and nonparenchymal cells (NPC) were isolated after a 2- step collagenase digestion of the liver according to an established protocol (1996, Methods Cell Biol 13:29) Prior to the isolation procedure, the caudate lobe was surgically removed and divided into halves, one being fixed in 10% buffered formalin, and the other placed in OTC. compound and frozen in cold 2-Methylbutane. The samples were stored at -80 °C until paraffin or frozen sections were prepared for routine examination after hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. This tissue served as an internal control for light microscopy and hybridization in situ.

Digestion began by blanching the liver to remove the majority of blood cells from the liver, by perfusion with a buffered saline solution (S&M) for 10 min, 10 ml/min at 37 °C. Digestion of the liver was accomplished by collagenase digestion (Worthington Biochemical Co., Freehold, NJ; 100 mg/250 ml S&M supplemented with CaCl) for 20 min, at 10 ml/min at 37°C. On completion of the digestion, the liver was removed from the animal, placed into cold S&M, and repeatedly shaken to disrupt the individual cells from the tissue. The resulting cell suspension was passed through nylon mesh and centrifuged 3 times at 50 g for 5 min to separate the hepatocytes from the NPCs. The supematants on top of the hepatocyte pellets were collected after each spin and combined. The hepatocytes were resuspended in cold media (MEM Neaa, Gibco, Gaithersburg, MD) and placed on ice until further use. The collected supernatant was diluted 1 :3 with cold S&M to remove the collagenase from the cells, and centrifuged at 1100 rpms (400 g) for 10 min to pellet the NPCs. The NPC fraction was then suspended in IX phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and stored at 4°C until oval cell isolation. The presence of oval cells in the NPC fraction has been previously determined (Yaswen, P., 1984, Cancer Research 44:324). The oval cells were then isolated from the NPC fraction using flow cytometric techniques as previously described (Petersen, B.E. et al., 1998, Hepatology 27:433). Briefly, approximately 200 x 10⁶ NPCs were incubated for 20 min at 4°C with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated anti-rat Thy 1.1 (1 μg/million cells) and then rinsed twice in IX PBS + 1%FBS, 5 min each time. FITC isotype mouse IgG, was used as control. The cells were then kept on ice in the dark until sorted with a Becton Dickinson FACStar flow cytometer into Thyl.f (oval cells) and Thyl.l^" sub- populations of cells. The purity of the different sorted cell populations were as follow: 95-97% pure for the Thy-1⁺ cells and 99% pure for the Thy-1^" cells (Petersen, B.E. et al., 1998, Hepatology 27:433).

6.1.7. IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION OF THE SRY REGION OF THE Y CHROMOSOME Digoxigenin labeled DNA probes, prepared by random priming using the Genius System instructions (Boehringer Mannheim, Indianapolis, IN), were hybridized to paraffin or frozen liver sections as per manufacturer's instructions. Briefly, frozen sections were placed on Superfrost Plus microscope slides (Fisher Scientific, Pittsburgh, PA) and were pre-hybridized in 10 mM Tris-HCl, 50% formamide, 0.6 M NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, lx Denhardts, 0.5 mg/ml carrier RNA and 10% dextran sulfate for 1 hr at 37 °C. The digoxigenin-labeled probe of the sry gene of the Y chromosome was applied to the sections and allowed to hybridize overnight at 37 °C. Following post-hybridization washes, detection of the probe was accomplished by incubation with alkaline phosphatase-conjugated anti-digoxigenin antibody (1 :500) for 2 hr at RT. Alkaline phosphatase activity was visualized by incubation with NBT and BICP (Boehringer Mannheim, Indianapolis, IN) in the dark. The color development was monitored and the enzymatic reaction stopped by immersing the slides in 10 mM Tris, 1 mM EDTA.

6.1.8. IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY AND CYTOCHEMISTRY All tissue samples were divided into half. One was immediately placed in liquid nitrogen for later extraction of RNA or DNA. The other half was split, with one portion being fixed in 10% buffered formalin and processed for preparation of 4-μm thick paraffin embedded sections, and the other portion placed in OTC freezing compound and cold 2-Methylbutane and processed for preparation of 6 μm-thick frozen sections which were stored at -80 °C until staining. Routine histological examinations were performed on both paraffin and frozen sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). In addition, spleen and pancreas tissue were treated the same way and frozen sections and parafin sections were DPPIV and hematoxylin and eosin stained.

6.2. RESULTS Female rats were lethally irradiated and rescued with a bone marrow transplant from a male animal. Nucleated blood cells of the transplanted animals were tested by PCR to establish that the BMTx was successful. Once the female rats were determined to have been engrafted with male bone marrow, they were placed on the oval cell protocol as stated above. On Day 9 and Day 13 (post hepaic injury) rats were anesthetized and their livers were perfused in order to obtain single cell suspensions of non-parenchymal cells (NPC) (cells that are not hepatocytes) and parenchymal cells (primarily hepatocytes). Flow cytometry was used to isolate the oval cells from the NPC fraction using anti-Thy-1-FITC. The Thy-1 positive, Thy-1 negative and hepatocyte populations were subjected to PCR analysis. Figure 1 shows that both the day 9 and day 13 Thy-1⁺ and Thy-1^" cell populations of NPCs were positive for the Y chromosome PCR product. The Thy-1^" fraction showed a strong signal, probably due to the presence of donor hematopoietic cells such as Kupffer cells which are in the NPC population and Thy-1 negative, but positive for the Y chromosome. In the day 9 hepatocyte fraction there was no visible signal. At this time point in oval cell activation, the oval cells have not yet begun to differentiate into either transitional cells or hepatocytes. By day 13 there were cells in the hepatocyte fraction expressing the Y chromosome PCR (549 bp) product. At this time the oval cells are beginning to differentiate into hepatocytes (Grishman, J.W., 1997, in Stem Cells, C.S. Potten, Ed. (Academic Press, San Diego, CA p233-282). If all oval cells that differentiate into hepatocytes were derived from the liver, then one would expect that none of the hepatocytes tested would be positive for the Y chromosome. The finding that some hepatocytes were Y chromosome positive indicates that they were derived from the bone marrow donor cells. The combined data indicates that at day 9 the oval cells (Thy-1⁺) in the recipient female were derived from the donor male and that they continued to differentiate into mature hepatocytes by day 13.

To confirm the PCR results seen in Figure 1, one of the smaller lobes from every liver that was perfused was ligated, removed and split in half. One portion was fixed in 10% buffered formalin and processed into 4-μm thick paraffin embedded sections; the other portion was placed in OTC freezing compound and processed into 6 μm-thick frozen sections. In situ hybridization for the Y chromosome sry gene was performed on both types of fixed tissue. Hepatocytes carrying a positive reaction product (blue staining) in their nuclei were readily seen in untreated control male rats (Figures 2A). In agreement with the results obtained by PCR analysis of the isolated hepatocyte fraction, cells with positive blue staining (Y chromosome positive) were detected in females subjected to BMTx and the 2-AAF/CCl₄ protocol at day 13(Figure 2B). Figure 2C shows no reaction product in the liver of an untreated control female. In the second set of bone marrow transplantation experiments, bone marrow cells from DPPIV F-344 male rats were injected into lethally irradiated DPPIV^" F-344 females. This constituted a system in which the presence of cells originating from donor cells in the recipient liver could be easily detected, by revealing cytochemically the activity of the enzyme DPPIV (Figure 3). As previously reported with studies of this enzyme, a diffuse red to brownish-red staining of the bile canalicular site between hepatocytes was observed. This type of staining was seen in the DPPIV⁺ F-344 male rats (Figure 3A). The control untreated DPPIV^" females showed no staining (Figure 3B). To determine whether DPPIV would be expressed in transplanted animals, staining was performed on liver sections prepared from transplanted female rats treated with 2-AAF/CCl₄. As seen in Figure 3C-3F, DPPIV expression was observed in several bile canalicular sites between hepatocytes from four different transplanted animals. DPPIV expression was also observed on a few oval cells/transitional (small hepatocyte) cells in the liver from these rats (Figure 3D and 3E). Four animals showing the strongest evidence of the donor marrow engraftment, based upon examination of the recipient rat's spleens, were chosen (Figure 3C-3F) for an estimation of the number of hepatocytes originating from the donor bone marrow. From these four animals, five different lobes were used to cut approximately 10 sections per lobe (50 sections total). All of the sections were stained for DPPIV and examined for DPPIV expression. Roughly, 25 random fields (200x) per section were examined, and the numbers indicate the total number of hepatocytes positive for DPPIV staining per section.

Table 1 represents the number of DPPIV positive hepatocytes observed in the transplanted DPPIV^" rats. By dividing the total positive cells by the total hepatocytes observed, approximately 0.16% of the total number of hepatocytes were positive for DPPIV expression. The rat liver has approximately 700 x 10⁶ hepatocytes, indicating that, at day 13, approximately 1.0 x 10⁶ hepatocytes originated from transplanted bone marrow cells using the oval cell protocol.

The mean value of 0.163% represents that approximately lxl 0⁶ hepatocytes would be positive for DPPIV expression within the transplanted female rats.

In order to confirm that extra-hepatic cells can repopulate the liver, whole liver transplantation was used as a final approach. In this series of experiments, Lewis rats that express the MHC class II L21-6 isozyme were used as recipients of liver from Brown-Norway rats which do not express L21-6 (Yagihushi, A. et al, 1995, Transplantation Proceedings 27:1519). An anti L21-6 monoclonal antibody was used to differentiate donor from recipient cells. In this model, oval cells that originated from an extra-hepatic source would be L21-6 positive, while oval cells originating in situ would be negative. The results obtained in these experiments are illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 A and 4B shows stained sections of two Brown-Norway rat livers transplanted into Lewis rats prior to being placed on the 2- AAF/CC1₄ protocol. A widespread staining of L21 -6 was present in the transplanted Brown-Norway livers, presumably due to influx of cells of the Lewis host immune system reacting to the allogenic Brown-Norway liver. Most notable, though, was the presence of ductal structures containing L21-6 positive cells. These structures represent a pattern often seen in the organization and differentiation of actively proliferating oval cells (Thorgeirsson, S.S. et al., 1993, Proc. Soc. Exp Biol Med 204:253; N. Fausto, in The Liver: Biology and Pathobiology I.M. Arias et al. Eds (Raven Press, New York 1994) p. 1501-1518 (third edition)). The presence therein of positive cells supports the concept that these oval cells were derived from an extra- hepatic source. The structures also contained cells which were clearly L21-6 negative, suggesting that some oval cells were derived in situ from the donor liver (Figure 4B). To better characterize the positive cells seen in the ductal structures and distinguish them from inflammatory cells invading the Brown-Norway transplanted livers, double immunofluorence staining was performed using an antibody against OC.2, a specific oval cell/ductal cell marker (Faris, R.A. et al., 1956 Cancer Research 16:142), in conjunction with the L21-6 antibody. As can be seen in Figure 5, individual cells expressing both OC.2 and L21-6 are evident as a yellow stain (combination of red and green). The cells, therefore, were identified as oval cells or derivatives thereof, and not immunocytes or inflammatory cells.

In addition, when tissues other than the liver were analyzed, such as the pancreas and spleen, and cell staining was observed, indicating that transplanted bone marrow cells were capable of infiltrating and incorporating into these tissues. As indicated in Figure 17A-F, when experimental DPPIV deficient rats were transplanted with DPPIV positive bone marrow, a large number of cells were positive for DPPIV (Figure 17 E-F). 7. EXAMPLE: PURIFICATION OF HEPATIC OVAL

CELLS USING ANTIBODIES THAT RECOGNIZE THE

THY1.1 CELL SURFACE ANTIGEN

The following subsection discloses experimental data indicating that hepatic oval cells express the hematopoietic stem cell marker Thy 1.1. The data provides a novel cell marker for identification of oval cells. Using Thy 1.1 antibody, a highly enriched population of oval cells was obtained.

7.1 MATERIALS AND METHODS CC1₄, 99% pure high-performance liquid chromatography grade, and 2- AAF were purchased from Aldrich Chemical Co. (St. Louis, MO). 2-AAF crystals were incorporated into time-released pellets (70 mg/pellet over a 28-day release, 2.5 mg/d) supplied by Innovative Research Inc. (Sarasota, FL). Male Fisher 344 rats (150-170 g) were obtained from Fredericks Laboratories (Frederick, MD). Microscope Superfrost Plus slides, buffered Formalin-Fresh, and dextran sulfate were obtained from Fisher Scientific (Pittsburg, PA). Hematoxylin was purchased from Anatech, Ltd. (Battle Creek, MI). Anti-α-fetoprotein (AFP) antibody was purchased from Nordic Immunology (Tilburgh, the Netherlands). OV-6 and BD-1 antibodies were gifts from Dr. Doug Hixson (Brown University, Providence, RI). OC.2 antibody was a gift from Dr. Ron Faris (Brown University, Providence, RI). Rat anti-GGT was a gift from Dr. Benito Lombardi (University of Pitssburgh, Pittsburgh, PA). Thyl .1 was purchased from PharMingen Inc. (San Diego, CA). Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was purchased from Signet Laboratory Inc. (Dedham, MA). 5- Bromodeoxy- uridine (BrdU) was obtained from Boehringer Mannheim (Indianapolis, IN). Desmin was obtained from Dako Corp. (Carpinteria, CA). Eosin, propidium iodide (PI), and all other chemicals used were obtained from Sigma Chemical Company (St. Louis, MO). 7.1.2 COMPOUND DELIVERY An LD₅₀ dose of CC1₄ as determined by Lewis was used (SAX Dangerous Properties of industrial Material, In: Lewis, R.J., Sr. Edition 8, 1993 update and vol 3. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1992 52:1149). A single dose of 1.9 mL/kg ( 1 ,500 mg/kg) of body weight, in a 1 : 1 vol/vol dilution in com oil, was administered by intraperitoneal injection. Two hours before they were sacrificed, the animals received an intra peritoneal injection of BrdU (50 mg/kg body weight) to identify cells in S-phase of the cell cycle, as described by Lindrose et al (1991, Hepatology 13:743-750).

7.1.3 OVAL CELL COMPARTMENT PROLIFERATION/ACTIVATION

2-AAF pellets were inserted 7 days before hepatic injury following a protocol similar to Novikoff et al. (1996, Am J Pathol 148:1473-1491) and Hixson et al. (1990, Pathobiology 58:65-73) The time points for this study were counted from when the hepatic injury (CC1₄, Phx) was induced. The dose and delivery for CC1₄ was discussed earlier in the compound delivery section and performed in the same manner. For the Phx procedure, rats were hepatectomized under general anaesthesia according to the methods described by Higgins and Anderson (1931, Arch. Pathol. 12:186-202). The tissue obtained was processed in the same manner described in the immunohistochemistry methods.

7.1.4 ANIMAL EUTHANIZATION

All procedures involving animals were conducted according to institutionally approved protocols. Rats were anesthetized by injection with sodium pentobarbital (0.1 mL/100 g body weight) before being sacrificed.

7.1.5 IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY

A basic immunohistochemical protocol previously described by Wolf et al. (1991, Hepatology 12:186-202) was used with slight modification to conform to each particular antibody. Liver tissue was divided and fixed in either 10% buffered formalin or placed in OTC compound, frozen in cold 2-methylbutane (Fisher Scientific), and stored at -80 °C. All staining procedures for light microscopy were performed on 4-μm thick, paraffin-embedded sections or 6-m thick, frozen sections. Routine histological examination were made for all liver tissue samples on sections (paraffin and frozen) stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Single cell suspensions were collected on glass slides by cytocentrifugation and air-dried. Cytocentrifugation was performed using a Cytospin 3 Cytocentrifuge (Shandon Inc. Pittsburgh, PA) for 6 minutes at 600 rpm. Immunohistochemistry on cytospin preparations (100,000 cells/slide) was performed using the techniques described above. The cytospin preps were then analyzed by confocal microscopy (Multiprobe 2001 Inverted Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope, CLSM, Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale, CA). BrdU staining was performed on 4-μm thick, paraffin-embedded tissue as described by Lindroos et al. (1991, Hepatology 12:186-202). For each, antibody-negative controls were performed by either blocking with the appropriate nonimmune serum or by omitting the primary antibody from the protocol.

7.1.6. FLOW CYTOMETRY

Hepatocyte and nonparenchymal cell isolation was performed by a two-step collagenase digestion according to the protocol established by Seglen (1976, Methods in Cell Biol 13:29-83). Oval cell isolation was performed using flow cytometry. Briefly, the nonparenchymal cell (NPC) fraction has been determined to contain the hepatic oval cell population as described by Yaswen et al. (1984, Cancer Res 44:324-331). Immunohistochemistry was performed on the parenchymal and NPC fractions to ensure that the cells of interest were in the NPC fraction. The NPC fraction was found to contain the highest percentage of oval cells. A portion (approximately 60 to 80 x 10⁶ of the total 200 x 10⁶ cells) of the NPC fraction was further purified using flow cytometry. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated anti-rat Thy 1.1 (1 mg/million cells) was used to label the target cells. The cell fraction was incubated with the antibody for 20 minutes at 4°C, rinsed twice in lx phosphate-buffered saline + 1% fetal bovine serum for 5 minutes each, and stored in the dark on ice until sorting. A FITC mouse G, IgG, was used as an isotype control. Cells were sorted using a Becton Dickinson FACStar flow cytometer into two populations: Thy 1.1 -positive (Thy 1.1 ⁺) and Thy 1.1 -negative (Thy 1.1^"). Those animals whose livers were perfused had one of the smaller lobes surgically removed before the cell isolation procedure. This tissue was used as an internal control for light microscopy, as well as for in situ hybridization. The excised liver tissue was divided in half and fixed in either 10% buffered formalin or placed in OTC compound, frozen in cold-2-methylbutane (Fisher Scientific), and stored at -80°C.

Cell Cycle Analysis. One x 10⁶ Thyl.l⁺ cells were fixed in ice-cold 70% ethanol at 4°C overnight. Following centrifugation (5 minutes at 3,000 rpm), the ethanol was removed and 1 mL of propidium iodide staining solution consisting of 50 mg/mL PI, 100 U/mL RNase A in Ca- and Mg-free phosphate-buffered saline + glucose was added and incubated for 30 minutes at room temperature. Flow cytometric cell cycle analysis was then performed.

7.2 RESULTS 7.2.1 TIME LINE OF EVENTS FOR ACTIVATION OF OVAL CELL PROLIFERATION

To activate oval cell proliferation in the liver, certain events must occur. Figure 6 is an outline that represents the events and times involved in the process of the activation of oval cell proliferation. In control animals, a placebo was inserted in place of 2-AAF. Oval cells can be seen as early as day 5 posthepatic injury and can still be detected as late as day 42 postinjury. Figure 7A-B shows the histological changes in liver sections from rats exposed to 2-AAF for 7 days, followed by CC1₄ exposure and sacrificed 11 days posthepatic injury. With the 2-AAF/CCl₄ protocol, massive oval cell proliferation was seen after day 9. The sections were also stained with antibodies for specific oval cell markers (e.g., CK-19 and GGT), and the oval cells generated from the 2-AAF/CCl₄ protocol were positive for these markers. The major peak of BrdU incorporation for oval cells occurred at day 9 posthepatic injury, with a drastic drop-off in BrdU incorporation on subsequent days. These results can be seen in Figure 8A-D, which shows livers sections from rats sacrificed on day 9 (Figure 8A), day 11 (Figure 8B), and day 13 (Figure 8C) post-CCl₄ exposure. The same type of proliferation pattern was also seen in the 2-AAF/Phx model. 7.2.2. IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY FOR THY-1 ON

ACTIVATED HEPATIC OVAL CELLS To determine whether Thy-1 and OC.2 antigens are expressed only by oval cells, normal rat liver was first examined. Figure 4 represents frozen sections obtained from normal rat liver. These sections were stained with Thy- 1.1 antibody (Figure 9A) or OC.2 antibody (Figure 9B). There appears to be no portion of the liver expressing the Thy-1 antigen. Figure 9B represents OC.2 staining. The ductular cells appear to be positive with little to no staining elsewhere in the liver. Our results are in agreement with Faris et al. (1991, Cancer Res 51 :1308-1317), who previously reported this pattern of staining for OC.2 in normal liver.

To test for Thy-1 expression on oval cells, frozen sections of livers with proliferating oval cells were used. In addition to Thy-1 expression, CK-19 and OC.2 expression was also examined. Figure 10 represents frozen liver sections obtained from rats on the 2-AAF/CCl₄ protocol at day 21 after liver injury. These sections were stained for CK- 19 (Figure 10A and 10D), OC.2 (Figure 10B and 10E), and Thy-1 (Figure 10C and 10F). Staining by all three antibodies on serial sections showed similar patterns, with all staining located in the periportal region and spreading outward; the pericentral region is devoid of staining. At higher magnification (Figure 10 D-F), the reactivity of the antibodies was primarily to the oval cells (arrows), or what has been termed in the art as transitional cells. Thy-1 antibody stained the ductular epithelium, which showed negative staining. This is also evident in Figure 11.

The possibility that cells staining positive for Thy-1 may be inflammatory cells in response to the CC1₄ exposure was ruled out. In the 2-AAF/PHx model, however, there is presumably no influx of inflammatory cells. Figure 11 shows sections from livers with oval cells, in which the hepatic injury was a PHx of two thirds (day 13 2-AAF/PHx). Again, as shown in Figure 10, the pattern of staining in the periportal region of the lobule and expanding outward was similar to the staining pattern seen in livers from a 2-AAF/PHx model (Figure 11 A-C). At a higher magnification (Figure 11D-F), the staining appeared localized to the oval cell population. These cells were positive for all three markers (CK-19 (Figure 11A and 1 ID); OC.2 (Figure 1 IB and 1 IE); Thy-1 (Figure 1 lC-1 IF)). Clearly, with both models of hepatic injury (2-AAF/CCl₄, 2-AAF/PHx), the pattern of staining for CK- 19, OC.2, and Thy-1 was the same within the same population of cells. It should also be noted that frozen sections from both 2-AAF/CCl₄ and 2-AAF/PHx were double- labeled with Thy-1 FITC and OC.2-Texas Red, and the same staining pattern was seen.

7.2.3. FACS ANALYSIS AND SORTING

FOR HOC USING THE THY-1 MARKER As shown above, using immunohistochemistry, oval cells express Thy 1.1 antigen. The possibility of obtaining a distinct Thy- 1 ⁺ population by cell sorting was next tested. Figure 12 represents FACS analysis of Thy-1 ⁺ and Thy-1^" sorted oval cells obtained from day 12 liver on the 2-AAF/CCl₄ protocol. Both the forward-/side-scatter plots and histograms are shown. Figure 12A (right gate) is that of Thy-1 ⁺ cells, and Figure 12B (left gate) is Thy-1^" cells. The Thyl.T population was sorted to 97% purity and the Thy 1.1^" cells to a 99% purity. In each experiment, only a portion of the NPC fraction was sorted (60 to 80 x 10⁶ cells) and typical yields of Thy-1 ⁺ cells obtained were 15 to 20 x 10⁶ cells. These two populations of sorted cells were 95% viable by Trypan blue exclusion. The Thy 1.1⁺ sorted cells were further examined to determine what stage of the cell cycle they were in. Oval cells were stained with propidium iodide and analyzed. Cell cycle analysis in Figure 12C shows a majority (>90%) of the Thyl.T cells were in the G0/G1 stage of the cell cycle. Figure 12D shows that =90% of those cells in the G0/G1 stage of the cell cycle were Thy-1⁺.

Immunohistochemical staining for BrdU and PCNA (Figure 13A and 13B, respectively) also revealed that the oval cells were not in the cell cycle at the stage of the model used for this study. Only a few cells were positively stained for either marker, representing the second peak in the propidium iodide analysis (Figure 13C and 13D). In a separate study, it was shown that there was only one peak (day 9) of BrdU incorporation for oval cells (2-AAF/CCl₄ protocol), and the days following the peak showed very little incorporation. Others have shown that oval cell proliferation lasts much longer, and perhaps the differences can be explained by the differences in the protocols. The data shown here were from experiments using the 2- AAF/CC1₄ protocol.

7.2.4. IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY ON THY-1⁺ SORTED HOC Having obtained Thy 1.1 ⁺ and Thy- 1 ^" populations, the sorted populations were further characterized to determine if the traditional oval cell markers were expressed. Thy-1⁺ and Thy-1^" cells were cytocentrifugated onto slides. Figures 14 and 15 represent Thy-1⁺ and Thy-1^" cells, respectively. Figure 14A is a hematoxylin-eosin stain, and Figure 14B is a representative of a negative control in which the primary antibody was omitted. For all antibodies, the appropriate negative controls were performed, either by omitting the primary antibody or by blocking with an appropriate nonimmune serum. Figure 14C-14F is of sorted Thy-1⁺ cells stained with α-fetoprotein (AFP), CK-19, GGT, and OV6, respectively. To show that the cells of interest (Thy-1⁺ cells) are not Ito cells, staining for desmin, an Ito cell-specific marker, was performed. These data are shown in Fig. 14G. The Thy- 1⁺ cells were negative for desmin, which indicated that these cells were Ito cells. Also, desmin staining was performed on liver sections obtained from both 2-AAF/CCl₄- and 2- AAF/PHx-treated animals at various time points, and the oval cells were also negative. The results shown in Fig. 14H are of double-stained oval cells showing Thy-1 -FITC (green) and AFP-Texas Red (red). In regions of the cell in which the antibody binding is in close proximity to each other, the two fluorochrome wavelengths mix, and the resulting fluorescence is yellow. The presence of dual markers (yellow) was evident in most cells shown. In addition, both Thyl (green) and AFP (red) were seen as distinct colors in separate cellular domains on the same cell. To show that the Thy-1⁺ staining was specific for oval cells, Thy-1^" cells were also subjected to the same immunostaining described above. Figure 15 represents these Thy-1^" cells; Figure 15A is a representative hematoxylin-eosin stain of Thy-1^" cells. Figure 15B and 15D are cells stained for AFP and GGT, respectively. Their corresponding negative controls are shown in Fig. 15C and 15D, respectively. In both cases, the Thy-1^" populations were devoid of any staining for these two traditional oval cell markers. The specificity for Thy-1 binding appeared to be only specific to oval cells, as seen in Figures 14 and 15.

The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein which are intended as single illustrations of individual aspects of the invention, and functionally equivalent methods and components are within the scope of the invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention, in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the claims. Various publications are cited herein, the contents of which are hereby incorporated, by reference, in their entireties.

Claims

1. A method for stimulating liver regeneration in a subject having a liver disorder comprising administering of bone marrow cells to said subject in an amount sufficient to result in the production of hepatocytes, bile ductal cells and/or oval cells.

2. The method of Claim 1 wherein the bone marrow cells are injected.

3. The method of Claim 1 wherein the bone marrow cells are transplanted into the liver.

4. The method of Claim 1 wherein the bone marrow cells are genetically engineered to express a functionally active protein.

5. The method of Claim 1 wherein the bone marrow cells are on a support matrix.

6. A method for stimulating liver regeneration in a subject having a liver disorder comprising the administration of enriched oval cells to a subject in an amount sufficient to result in the production of hepatocytes, bile ductal cells and/or oval cells.

7. The method of Claim 6 wherein the oval cells are injected.

8. The method of Claim 6 wherein the oval cells are transplanted into the liver.

9. The method of Claim 6 wherein the oval cells are genetically engineered to express a functionally active protein.

10. The method of Claim 6 wherein the oval cells are on a support matrix.

11. The method of Claim 1 or 6 wherein the dose of cells is between 10⁵- 10⁶.

12. The method of Claim 1 or 6 wherein the dose of cells is between 10⁶-

10⁸.

13. The method of Claim 1 wherein the bone marrow cells are contacted with a growth factor prior to administration.

14. The method of Claim 6 wherein the oval cells are contacted with a growth factor prior to administration.

15. A method for stimulating pancreatic regeneration in a subject having a pancreatic disorder comprising administering of bone marrow cells to said subject in an amount sufficient to result in the production of pancreatic cells.

16. The method of Claim 15 wherein the bone marrow cells are injected.

17. The method of Claim 15 wherein the bone marrow cells are transplanted into the pancreas.

18. The method of Claim 15 wherein the bone marrow cells are genetically engineered to express a functionally active protein.

19. The method of Claim 15 wherein the bone marrow cells are on a support matrix.

0. A method for enriching for oval cells comprising:

(a) disaggregating liver tissue to form a single cell suspension of hepatic cells;

(b) purification from the single cell suspension of Thy 1.1 positive hepatic cells from Thy 1.1 negative hepatic cells; wherein the Thy 1.1 positive cells comprise the oval cells.

21. The method of Claim 20 wherein Thyl .1 positive hepatic cells are purified from Thy 1.1 negative cells using a Thy-1 specific antibody.

22. A composition comprising an enriched population of oval cells in a physiologically acceptable carrier.

23. A composition of matter comprising an enriched population of oval cells attached to a matrix.

24. The composition of matter of Claim 23 further comprising a growth factor associated with the matrix.