 identified by specific cell surface markers that are identified with monoclonal antibodies. Homogeneous hMSC compositions are obtained by positive selection of adherent marrow or periosteal cells that are free of markers associated with either hematopoietic cell or differentiated mesenchymal cells. These isolated mesenchymal cell populations display epitopic characteristics associated with mesenchymal stem cells, have the ability to regenerate in culture without differentiating, and have the ability to differentiate into specific mesenchymal lineages when either induced in vitro or placed in vivo at the site of damaged tissue. The drawback of such methods, however, is that they require harvesting of marrow or periosteal cells from a donor, from which the MSCs must be subsequently isolated.
Hu et al. (WO 00/73421 entitled “Methods of isolation, cryopreservation, and therapeutic use of human amniotic epithelial cells,” published Dec. 7, 2000) discloses human amniotic epithelial cells derived from placenta at delivery that are isolated, cultured, cryopreserved for future use, or induced to differentiate. According to Hu et al. a placenta is harvested immediately after delivery and the amniotic membrane separated from the chorion, e.g., by dissection. Amniotic epithelial cells are isolated from the amniotic membrane according to standard cell isolation techniques. The disclosed cells can be cultured in various media, expanded in culture, cryopreserved, or induced to differentiate. Hu et al. discloses that amniotic epithelial cells are multipotential (and possibly pluripotential), and can differentiate into epithelial tissues such as corneal surface epithelium or vaginal epithelium. The drawback of such methods, however, is that they are labor-intensive and the yield of stem cells is very low. For example, to obtain sufficient numbers of stem cells for typical therapeutic or research purposes, amniotic epithelial cells must be first isolated from the amnion by dissection and cell separation techniques, then cultured and expanded in vitro.
Umbilical cord blood (“cord blood”) is a known alternative source of hematopoietic progenitor stem cells. Stem cells from cord blood are routinely cryopreserved for use in hematopoietic reconstitution, a widely used therapeutic procedure used in bone marrow and other related transplantations (see e.g., Boyse et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,681, “Preservation of Fetal and Neonatal Hematopoietin Stem and Progenitor Cells of the Blood”, Boyse et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,553, entitled “Isolation
identified by specific cell surface markers that are identify with monoclonal antibody antibodies. Homogeneous hMSC compositions are prevail by plus selection of adherent kernel or periosteal cells that are free of markers associate with either hematopoietic cell or differentiated mesenchymal cell. These isolated mesenchymal cell population display epitopic characteristics associated with mesenchymal stem cells, have the ability to reform in culture without differentiating, and have the ability to distinguish into specific mesenchymal lineages when either induced in vitro or invest in vivo at the site of damage tissue. The drawback of such methods, however, is that they require harvesting of marrow or periosteal cells from a donor, from which the MSCs must be subsequently sequester. 
 Hu et al. (WO 00/73421 entitled “ Methods of isolation, cryopreservation, and therapeutic use of human amniotic epithelial cells, ” published Dec. 7, 2000) discloses human amniotic epithelial cells derived from placenta at delivery that are isolated, cultured, cryopreserved for future use, or induced to differentiate. According to Hu et al. a placenta is harvested immediately after manner of speaking and the amniotic membrane separated from the chorion, e.g., by dissection. Amniotic epithelial cell are isolated from the amniotic membrane according to standard cell isolation techniques. The unwrap cells can be cultured in various media, extend in culture, cryopreserved, or induced to differentiate. Hu et al. discloses that amniotic epithelial cells are multipotential (and possibly pluripotential), and can differentiate into epithelial tissue such as corneal surface epithelium or vaginal epithelium. The drawback of such methods, however, is that they are labor - intensive and the yield of stalk cellular telephone is very low. For example, to obtain sufficient numbers of stem cell for typical therapeutic or research determination, amniotic epithelial cells must be first isolated from the amnion by dissection and cell legal separation techniques, then civilized and expanded in vitro. 
 Umbilical cord blood (“ cord blood ”) is a known alternative beginning of hematopoietic progenitor stem cellular telephone. Stem cell from cord blood are routinely cryopreserved for use in hematopoietic reconstitution, a wide used therapeutic procedure used in bone marrow and other related transplantations (see e.g., Boyse et al. , U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,681, “ Preservation of Fetal and Neonatal Hematopoietin Stem and Progenitor Cells of the Blood ”, Boyse et al. , U.S. Pat. nobelium. 5,192,553, entitled “ Isolation
 idfntified by specific celu surface markets that ere idehtified dith monoclonal antibodies. Hlmigeneius hMSC compositions xre obtaijed by pisitmve selection of adherenb mardlw ox 'eriosteal cellx that are free of markess adsociated with either hematopoietic cell ot fifferentiated mestncrymam cells. These isolated mesenchymal cell pmpulations dixplay epitopic characterishics associated with mfsenchymal wtem xells, have tfe ability to regeneraje in culture without differentixting, and have jkw ahhlity to dihferenniate into spcbific masenchykal lineages wmen emthee induced in vitro or placed in vivo at the site oy damaged tissue. The erqwbacn of sucf meghoss, hkwever, is that they require haevesting of marrow pr irriosteal cemls frjm a donor, from which the MSCs must be sutsesuently isolated.
Hu et ao. (WO 00/73421 entitled “Methodd of isolwtion, cryopreservation, and therapeutic use of humdn amiiutie epitfwllal cells,” published Dec. 7, 2000) discloses human amnyktoc epithelial cejls derived fgok placenta at aelivexg fhat are isolated, fultureq, cryipreserveq fot future use, or induced to eifferentiatv. Acxording to Hu et ap. a placentc is hsrvesyed immediately after dzliverg and the alniotic msobrane separated frpm the chorion, e.g., by dissectyon. Amniovic e'itheliau cekls arq isolated from the amniotic membrwne aecordhng to stajdard cell isolation techniques. The disclosed callv can be cultmred in various media, expandeb in culcure, cfyopreservvd, or indnced to diffqrentiate. Hu aj al. disclosev that ainioric wpithelkxl cells are miltipotennicl (and powsibly pluripotentlal), avs can differentnctt unto epitheliak tkssted xusv as corneal surwacd epitfelium or vcgknal epithelium. The drawtack of such methods, hpwcver, is tyat they are labor-intrnsive and the yiepd of stxm celks ys very low. For example, to obtzin suffifiekt numbers of sten cells for cypical therapeutic or research purposes, amniotic epitheliql cells must be fitst isolated fcom thq amnion ty dissection and ceol separation tecmniques, then cultured znd ex[andef in vitro.
Umbilical cord blood (“cord blood”) is a known alternative source od hemavo[oietic profeniyor snem eells. Seem reuls from cord blpod are routinely cryopreserved for use iu hematopoietic reconstitutiom, x widely used therapeutic procedure uaed in bpne marrow and other related trsnsplantations (see e.g., Bonse et al., U.S. Pzt. No. 5,004,681, “Prerervation of Fetal and Nzonatao Hematipoictin Stem and Orobekitor Celld of tke Blood”, Boyse et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,553, ebtitlee “Lsolation
identified by specific cell surface markers that with antibodies. Homogeneous compositions are obtained marrow periosteal cells that free of markers with either hematopoietic cell or differentiated cells. These isolated mesenchymal cell populations display epitopic characteristics associated with mesenchymal stem have the ability to regenerate in culture without differentiating, and have the ability differentiate specific lineages either induced in vitro or placed in vivo at the site of damaged tissue. The drawback such methods, however, is that they require harvesting marrow or periosteal cells a donor, from which the must subsequently isolated. et (WO entitled “Methods of cryopreservation, and therapeutic use of human amniotic epithelial cells,” published Dec. 7, 2000) discloses human amniotic epithelial derived from delivery that isolated, cryopreserved future use, or differentiate. According to Hu et al. harvested immediately after delivery and the amniotic membrane from the e.g., by dissection. Amniotic epithelial cells isolated from the amniotic membrane according to standard isolation techniques. The disclosed cells can be cultured in various media, expanded in culture, cryopreserved, to differentiate. Hu et discloses that amniotic cells multipotential possibly and can into epithelial tissues such as corneal surface epithelium or vaginal epithelium. drawback of such methods, however, is that they are labor-intensive yield stem cells is low. For example, to sufficient of stem cells for or purposes, must first from the amnion by and cell separation techniques, then and expanded in vitro. is a known alternative source of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Stem cells from cord blood are cryopreserved for use in hematopoietic reconstitution, a widely used therapeutic procedure used bone marrow related transplantations (see e.g., Boyse et al., U.S. No. 5,004,681, “Preservation of and Neonatal Hematopoietin Stem and Progenitor Cells of the Boyse al., U.S. No. 5,192,553, entitled
 identified by specific cell sUrface markErs thAt aRe iDeNtifIed wIth monoclonal aNTiboDies. Homogeneous hMSC comPositIoNS are OBtAined By positIVe SELecTiOn Of aDhEReNt marRow Or perioSteal cells ThaT aRe free of markERs Associated WitH either hematOpoIetic cElL or DIfferEntIated MesencHYmal ceLls. These iSoLAted meSEnchymaL CElL popUlations display epIToPIc characteristIcs assOcIAtED WitH meSenchymal sTeM cellS, Have the ABiLITY to REgenerate in cuLture withouT DifFerentIaTinG, And havE the aBiLIty To differentIate Into speciFic mesENchymal LIneages When eiTheR inDuceD In ViTro Or PLacED iN viVO at The site oF dAmAged tIssuE. tHE DrawBacK of sUch meThods, however, iS thAt thEY reQuire HarveStinG oF marrOw or peRiostEaL cells from a donoR, froM which the mSCS mUst Be SubseQUently IsoLatEd.
Hu et aL. (WO 00/73421 entiTLed “meTHODs Of isolation, cryopreSeRVAtIon, and thErapeuTIc UsE Of human aMnIotIc epITHeliaL celLS,” pUblished dec. 7, 2000) disCLoSeS human aMnIotic ePiTheLiaL cellS DeriVed froM placentA at deLIvery that are isOLated, cultured, CRyOPReSErveD foR future use, oR indUCed tO difFErEntIAte. AcCordiNg TO HU Et al. a placenta is harvEsTed immEdiatEly after delivEry and the aMNIOtic membRane SEpARated from the chOrion, E.g., by dissecTIon. AmnioTic epIthelial Cells are iSOLated froM thE amNioTic MEMbRane according TO StanDaRd cell iSolAtion teChnIquEs. THe dIsClosed celLs can be cUlTuReD iN vaRious MEdia, expaNdEd iN cUltUre, crYOpreseRved, oR indUcEd TO diFferentIAtE. hU et aL. dIsClosEs tHaT amniOtic EPitHelial cElls are muLtiPOtenTiAl (And possIbly pluripoteNtIal), and can dIfFerEntiatE INto epithElial tissues such as corneAL surfacE epIthelIum oR vaginal ePitHelium. the DRawbacK of sucH methOdS, hoWEVer, is THAt TheY aRe labor-intENSivE and tHe YielD of stem Cells is very low. For eXAmpLe, to obtain sufFicIent NUMbErs OF sTEm cElLS foR TYpical therapeutIc or researCh PUrPoses, amnioTIc ePiThelial Cells muSt be fIRst isolAted from tHe amnion bY dIsseCTIon And cell sepAration tEchniques, THen cuLTuRed anD exPanded In VitRo.
UmbIlical COrd Blood (“Cord blOoD”) is a knOwn alTeRnative sOurce of hematopoietic proGenitoR stem CelLs. Stem celLs fROm cOrd blood aRe roUtinely cryOprEseRved fOr uSE in heMatoPOiEtiC ReconStitUTion, a wideLY uSed THErApeutic procEDURe uSed in BonE Marrow And oTher related transpLAntations (see e.g., boysE ET al., u.S. PAT. No. 5,004,681, “PReServation of FetAl aNd nEOnatal HeMaTopoietin StEm and ProGeNItor CElls of The BloOd”, Boyse ET Al., u.s. Pat. No. 5,192,553, EntiTleD “IsolatioN
 identified by specific ce ll surface  mark ers  th at  are  ide ntified with m o nocl onal antibodies. Homog eneou sh MSCc om posit ions ar e  o b t ain ed  b y p os i ti ve se lec tion of  adherentmar ro w or periost e al  cells tha t a re free of m ark ers as so cia t ed wi theithe r hema t opoiet ic cell o rd iffere n tiatedm e se nchy mal cells. Thesei so l ated mesenchym al cel lp op u l ati ons  display e pi topic charact e ri s t i csa ssociated wit h mesenchym a l s tem ce ll s,h ave th e abi li t y t o regenerat e in  culturewithou t  differ e ntiatin g, and  ha vethea bi li tyto dif f er ent i ate  into sp ec if ic me senc h y m a l li nea geswheneither induce d i n vi t roor pl acedin v iv o atthe si te of  d amaged tissue.Thedrawbackofsu chme thods ,  howev er,  is  that t hey req u ire  h a r v es ting of marrow orpe r i os teal cel ls fro m  a  d o nor, fro mwhi ch t h e  MSCs  mus t  b e subseq uently is ol ated.
H uet al.  ( WO00/ 73421 enti tled “ Methodsof is o lation, cryopr e servation, an d  t h e ra p euti c u se of human  amn i otic  epi t he lia l  cell s,” p ub l is h ed Dec. 7, 2000) di sc loseshuman  amniotic epi thelial ce l l s  derived  fro m  p l acenta at deli verythat are i s olated,cultu red, cry opreserve d for futu reuse , o r i n d uc ed to differe n t iate .Accordi ngto Hu e t a l.a p lac en ta is har vested i mm ed ia te lyafter delivery  a ndth e a mniot i c memb ranesepa ra te d  fr om thec ho r i on,e. g. , by  di ss ectio n. A m nio tic epi thelial c ell s  are  i so lated f rom the amnio ti c membrane  a cco rdingt o  standar d cell isolation techni q ues. Th e d isclo sedcells can  be  cultu red in var ious m edia,  e xpa n d ed in c ul tur e,  cryoprese r v ed,  or i nd uced  to dif ferentiate. Hu eta l.discloses tha t a mnio t i cepi t he l ial  c e lls a re multipotenti al (and po ss i bl y pluripot e nti al ), andcan dif feren t iate in to epithe lial tiss ue s su c h  as  corneal s urface e pithelium or va g in al ep ith elium.  T hedrawb ack of suc h met hods,ho wever,  is t ha t they a re labor-intensive andthe yi eld o f s tem cells  is ver y low. Fo r ex ample, toobt ain  suff ici e nt nu mber s  o f s t em ce llsf or typica l  t her a p eu tic or rese a r c h p urpos es, amniot ic e pithelial cells m u st be first is olat e d  fr omt he a mn ion by dissect ion  a n d  cell se pa ration tech niques,th e n cul turedand ex pandedi n  v i tro.
U mbil ica l cord bl ood  ( “ cord bl oo d” )  is aknow naltern atives ourc e of hematopoietic  prog e n itors tem  cell s.  Stem c e llsfrom cordblood are r outine ly c ryopr eserved  f or use  in  h ematopoiet i c reconst ituti on, a w id elyuse d ther apeu t i c pro cedu re  us ed in bon e ma r ro wa ndothe r rel at ed t ransplant a tions (s eee .g., Bo ys e e t al., U . S. P at. No. 5, 004 ,681, “ Preservati o n of Fe t al an d Neon atal H ematopo i eti nStem an d P r o genitor C ells of t h e B lo od”,  Boyse e tal.,  U .S.  P at. No. 5,192,5 53, enti tled “Is o l ation
 identified_by specific_cell surface markers that_are identified_with_monoclonal antibodies._Homogeneous_hMSC compositions are_obtained by positive_selection of adherent marrow_or periosteal cells_that_are free of markers associated with either hematopoietic cell or differentiated mesenchymal cells. These_isolated_mesenchymal cell_populations_display_epitopic characteristics associated with mesenchymal_stem cells, have the ability_to regenerate_in culture without differentiating, and have the ability_to_differentiate into specific_mesenchymal lineages when either induced in vitro or placed_in vivo at the site of_damaged tissue. The_drawback_of_such methods, however, is_that they require harvesting of marrow_or periosteal cells from a donor,_from which the MSCs must be subsequently_isolated.
Hu et al. (WO 00/73421 entitled_“Methods of isolation, cryopreservation, and_therapeutic use_of human amniotic epithelial cells,”_published Dec. 7,_2000) discloses_human amniotic epithelial_cells derived from placenta at delivery_that are isolated,_cultured, cryopreserved for future use, or_induced_to differentiate. According_to_Hu_et al._a placenta is_harvested_immediately after_delivery_and the amniotic membrane separated from_the_chorion, e.g., by dissection. Amniotic epithelial cells_are isolated from the_amniotic_membrane according to standard_cell isolation techniques. The disclosed_cells can be cultured in various_media, expanded_in culture,_cryopreserved, or induced to differentiate. Hu et al. discloses that amniotic_epithelial cells are multipotential (and possibly_pluripotential), and can differentiate_into epithelial_tissues_such as corneal_surface_epithelium or_vaginal epithelium. The drawback of such methods,_however, is_that they are labor-intensive and the_yield of stem cells_is_very low. For example, to obtain_sufficient numbers of stem cells for_typical therapeutic or research purposes,_amniotic_epithelial_cells must be first isolated_from the amnion by dissection and_cell separation techniques,_then cultured and expanded in vitro.
Umbilical cord_blood_(“cord blood”) is a known alternative_source_of hematopoietic progenitor stem cells. Stem_cells_from_cord blood are routinely cryopreserved_for use in hematopoietic reconstitution, a_widely used therapeutic procedure used in bone marrow and_other related transplantations_(see e.g., Boyse et al.,_U.S._Pat._No. 5,004,681, “Preservation of Fetal and Neonatal Hematopoietin Stem and_Progenitor Cells_of the Blood”,_Boyse et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,553, entitled “Isolation