Patent ID: 7282200

Claim:
A mixed cell composition to generate hyaline cartilage at a target site, comprising a) a first population of fibroblast or chondrocyte cells transfected or transduced with a gene encoding transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) or bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2); b) a second population of chondrocyte cells that have not been transfected or transduced with said gene, wherein endogenously existing forms of chondrocyte cells are decreased at the target site, and wherein generation of TGF-β1 or BMP-2 by the first population of fibroblast or chondrocyte cells at the target site stimulates the second population of chondrocyte cells to generate hyaline cartilage; and c) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier thereof, wherein the ratio of the second population of chondrocyte cells that have not been transfected or transduced with the gene encoding TGF-β1 or BMP-2 to the first population of fibroblast or chondrocyte cells that have been transfected or transduced with a gene encoding TGF-β1 or BMP-2 in the composition is 1-20 to 1.