| abstract |
The present invention relates to the use of antibodies recognizing Fetal Antigen-1 (FA1/dlk1) for the detection and isolation of cell populations in mammalian muscle. In one embodiment, myogenic progenitor cells are detected in developing, diseased or regenerating muscle. In another embodiment, muscle stem and progenitor myogenic progenitor cells are isolated from muscle tissue or from cultures containing muscle cells. The isolated cells may be used for transplantation, drug screening, production of cell type specific antibodies, and gene therapy and discovery. Transplantation of these cells may provide treatments for degenerative diseases of muscle, and for regeneration of muscle following trauma or ischemia such as myocardial infarction. |