Patent ID: 8173372

Claim:
A method of isolating a precursor endothelial cell from a biological sample comprising: (a) providing a sample of whole blood, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, or leucapherisate containing or suspected of containing a precursor endothelial cell; (b) contacting the sample with an antibody specific against Tie-2 endothelial cell surface receptor or an antigen binding fragment of said antibody under conditions where the precursor endothelial cell and Tie-2 specific antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, are capable of forming a complex to produce a Tie-2 antibody precursor endothelial cell complex, or a Tie-2 antibody antigen binding fragment precursor endothelial cell complex; wherein the antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof is attached to a solid support; and (c) separating said complex from the sample, thereby isolating said precursor endothelial cell from said biological sample wherein the isolated precursor endothelial cell is CD34 negative and CD14 positive.