HEMAT STEM CELLS BY ANTIGP105 MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY

Our objective is to establish an effective protocol for enrichment or purification of blood stem cells, using a one-step procedure. We plan to achieve this by means of a stem cell-specific monoclonal antibody. Using a polyclonal antibody, we have shown in our recent publication that a molecule, gp105, is present specifically on blood stem cells. In addition, we presented data in this application that single gp105-sorted cells could be used to repopulate the blood system in lethally irradiated recipients. in this Phase I application, we propose to screen for a monoclonal antibody specifically directed against gp105. Once obtained, we shall verify that it can be used to show that its expression is restricted to blood stem cells, and that it can be used to purify blood stem cells by a simple one-step procedure. Establishment of this goal will have major contribution in the treatment of any disease which requires therapeutic measures such as stem cell transplantation and gene therapy.