Patent ID: 8021693

Claim:
A method for increasing or maintaining the number of functional cells of a predetermined type in an organ or tissue of a mammal, wherein said organ or tissue is injured, damaged, or deficient in said functional cells and wherein said organ or tissue is, or is part of, pancreas, spleen, liver, kidney, bone, blood, vascular tissue, brain, spinal cord, nervous system tissue, heart, bile duct, skin, bladder, eye, stomach, intestines, muscle, ligament, cartilage, esophagus, gallbladder, lung, ovaries, prostate, testes, thymus, ureter, urethra, uterus, or fat, said method comprising administering to said mammal a composition enriched in pluripotent cells from an adult mammal, wherein said pluripotent cells endogenously express the Hox ll gene.