Patent ID: 7638285
Filing Date: 2009-12-29
Classification: C12N

Abstract:
1. A method of enriching mammary stem cells and/or luminal restricted colony forming cells in a sample containing mammary cells comprising 1) reacting the sample with first antibody composition comprising antibodies that bind to the antigens CD45, Ter119 and CD31 on non-epithelial cells under conditions so that conjugates are formed between the antibodies and the cells in the sample containing the non-epithelial antigens; 2) removing the conjugates; 3) recovering a cell preparation which is enriched in mammary epithelial cells and 4) reacting the sample enriched in epithelial cells with a second antibody composition capable of binding the antigens CD24 and/or CD49f under conditions so that conjugates form between antibodies and the cells in the sample containing the antigens CD24 and/or CD49f; and recovering cells that are bound by the antibodies, wherein said recovered cells comprise mammary stem cells and/or luminal restricted colony forming cells.