Patent ID: 7005127

Claim:
A mixed cell composition to generate hyaline cartilage at a target site, comprising a) a first population of fibroblast or chondroctye 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 the gene encoding TGF-β1 or BMP-2, 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 selected from the group consisting of: about 3–20 to 1; about 3–10 to 1; and about 10 to 1.