CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application no. 62/138,233, entitled "IL-1 RA Based Compositions and Treatments," filed March 25, 2015, attorney docket number 064693-0310, the entire content of which are incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0002] This invention was made with government support under Grant No. R01 DE017449 awarded by National Institutes of Health (NIH). The government has certain rights in the invention.

BACKGROUND

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] This disclosure relates to a stem cell treatment. This disclosure also relates to an IL-1 RA treatment. This disclosure also relates to a composition comprising stem cells and preparation of this composition. This disclosure also relates to a composition comprising IL-1 RA and preparation of this composition. This disclosure further relates to a wound treatment using stem cells and/or IL- 1 RA. This disclosure also further relates to a treatment to reduce scar formation by using a stem cell and/or IL-1 RA.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

[0004] Wound healing is a sophisticated process of tissue repair involving multiple cell types and biological pathways. Mammalian adult cutaneous wound healing is mediated by a fibro-proliferative response with scar formation.

Dysregulation of this interactive process (e.g., diabetes) may adversely result in delayed wound healing or hypertrophic scarring (Loots et al., 1998; Gurtner et al., 2008). Especially, if the inflammatory phase is prolonged, the pro-inflammatory mediators will direct the myofibroblasts and fibrocytes in larger scar formation (Rhett et al., 2008). These chronic wounds represent the most significant challenges in current clinical practice with over 50% of them being refractory to the treatment (Summer, 2012).

[0005] In contrast, early to mid-gestational fetal cutaneous wound healing is more akin to a scarless regeneration. Previous studies have shown that fetal wounds appear to have mild inflammation with fewer inflammatory cells and lower levels of inflammatory factors (Hu et al., 2014). Intriguingly, there is a common impression among clinicians that oral gingiva/mucosa wound heals faster and with minimal scar formation (Hakkinen et al., 2000) when compared to cutaneous wound healing. More importantly, the healing process shows a similar reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and proinflammatory factor production as the fetal wound healing (Szpaderska et al., 2003; Larjava et al., 201 1 ). These evidences indicate that the outcome of wound healing process is largely affected by inflammatory regulation.

[0006] Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are described to be a type of multipotent progenitor cells with ability to self-renewal and to differentiate into multiple cell lineages (Friedenstein et al., 1974; Prockop, 1997). Furthermore, MSCs are shown to have the capability to regulate immune response, which has provided a foundation for the use of MSCs in immune therapies (Uccelli et al., 2008; Le Blanc et al., 2008; Sun et al., 2009; Akiyama et al., 2012). It is generally agreed that local connective tissue fibroblasts are the major source involved in skin wound site repair (R. Higashiyama et al., 201 1 ).

[0007] In addition, it is now well documented that the local MSCs such as the stem cells residing in the dermal sheath that surrounds the outside of the hair follicle can also differentiate into fibroblasts after a lesion (C.A. Jahoda et al., 2001 and 2003).

[0008] Recently, gingiva/mucosa-derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) were isolated and characterized. Interestingly, these cells have a distinct neural crest origin, share some traits with fetal cells and show potent immunoregulatory properties suggesting that they may possess specific therapeutic potential (Xu et al., 2013; Fournier et al., 2013).

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[00106] The entire contents of above publications are incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY

[00107] This disclosure relates to a stem cell treatment. This disclosure also relates to an IL-1 RA treatment. This disclosure also relates to a composition comprising stem cells and to the preparation of this composition. This disclosure also relates to a composition comprising IL-1 RA and to the preparation of this composition. This disclosure further relates to a wound treatment using stem cells and/or IL-1 RA. This disclosure also further relates to a treatment to reduce scar formation by using a stem cell and/or IL-1 RA. A composition comprising a stem cell that may treat a wound. Preferably, the stem cells compositions are prepared from multipotent or pluripotent stem cells, and not from totipotent stem cells. More preferably, the stem cell compositions are prepared from multipotent stem cells, and not from pluripotent or totipotent stem cells.

[00108] As described and exemplified herein, certain stem cells contain intracellular IL-1 RA, and can release the intracellular IL-1 RA in response to stimuli (e.g., pro-inflammatory mediators) that are present at the site of a would. Thus, IL-1 RA can be administered to a subject in need thereof by administering stem cells that contain intracellular IL-1 RA to the subject. In some aspects, the disclosure relates to a composition that may comprise IL-1 RA in which the composition contains a stem cell with intracellular IL-1 RA.

[00109] The composition may comprise IL-1 RA, which may treat a wound. This composition may improve wound healing. The composition may also comprise IL- 1 RA substitute, which may treat a wound. An example of an IL-1 RA substitute may be anakinra, which is a recombinant, nonglycosylated form of the human IL- 1 RA. Anakinra differs from native human IL-1 RA in that it has the addition of a single methionine residue at its amino terminus. It may be produced by

recombinant DNA technology using an E coli bacterial expression system. The composition may comprise IL-1 RA substitute with a concentration, for example, in the range of 1 mg per mL to 1 ,000 mg per mL of the composition; or 10 mg per mL to 200 mg per mL of the composition. The composition may comprise IL-1 RA substitute with a concentration, for example, in the range of 1 mg per gram to 1 ,000 mg per gram of the composition; or 10 mg per gram to 200 mg per gram of the composition.

[00110] The composition may comprise a stem cell and may reduce scar formation when the composition is administered to treat a wound (e.g. applied to a wound). The composition may also comprise IL-1 RA and may reduce scar formation when the composition is administered to treat a wound (e.g., applied to a wound). [00111] The composition may comprise stem cells, for example, in the form of a cell culture. The composition may be a drug or a biologic formulation. The stem cell may be any stem cell. The stem cell may comprise gingiva derived

mesenchymal stem cell (GMSC).

[00112] The wound may be any injury to any living tissue. An example of tissue may be skin. Examples of injury may be caused by trauma, such as a cut, blow, or other impact, including accidental and surgical reasons. The living tissue may be a living tissue of a mammal. The mammal may be a human. The mammal may be a non-human animal.

[00113] The treatment may comprise administering one or more compositions using any suitable methods, such as systemic infusion, localized application (including topical application), or other suitable means of formulation and delivery.

[00114] The preparation of a composition comprising a stem cell may comprise obtaining a tissue, separating the tissue into cells, identifying and/or isolating stem cells (e.g., by sorting), and preparing a composition comprising the stem cells.

[00115] Other exemplary embodiments are as follows.

[00116] A composition may comprise an IL-1 RA substitute and at least one human stem cell that expresses IL-1 RA. This composition may comprise an effective amount of the IL-1 RA substitute such that the composition is effective in a treatment of a wound. The composition may comprise an effective amount of the IL-1 RA substitute such that the composition is effective in reducing scar formation when the composition is applied to a wound. The composition may comprise an effective amount of human stem cells that are effective in a treatment of a wound. The composition may comprise an effective amount of human stem cells such that the composition is effective in reducing scar formation when the composition is applied to a wound. The composition may comprise an effective amount of the IL- 1 RA substitute and an effective amount of human stem cells such that the composition is effective in a treatment of a wound. The composition may comprise the IL-1 RA substitute and an effective amount of human stem cells such that the composition is effective in reducing scar formation when the composition is applied to a wound. The stem cell may comprise a human mesenchymal stem cell. The human stem cell may comprise a human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell, a human dental pulp stem cell, a human stem cell from human exfoliated deciduous teeth, a human periodontal ligament stem cell, a human dental follicle stem cell, a human tooth germ progenitor cell, a human stem cell from an apical papilla, a human epithelial progenitor/stem cell, a human gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cell, a human periosteum-derived stem cell, a human salivary gland-derived stem cell, or a combination thereof. The human stem cell may comprise a human gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cell. The IL- 1 RA substitute may be anakinra.

[00117] A method of treating a human subject may comprise administering an effective amount of a composition comprising human IL-1 RA to the human subject, and thereby treating a wound of the human subject. The human IL-1 RA may be derived from at least one human stem cell. The composition may comprise an effective amount of the human IL-1 RA such that the composition is effective in the treatment of the wound. The human stem cell may comprise a mesenchymal stem cell. The human stem cell may comprise a human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell, a human dental pulp stem cell, a human stem cell from human exfoliated deciduous teeth, a human periodontal ligament stem cell, a human dental follicle stem cell, a human tooth germ progenitor cell, a human stem cell from an apical papilla, a human epithelial progenitor/stem cell, a human gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cell, a human periosteum-derived stem cell, a human salivary gland-derived stem cell, or a combination thereof. The human stem cell may comprise a human gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cell.

[00118] A method of treating a human subject may comprise administering an effective amount of a composition comprising an IL-1 RA substitute to the human subject and thereby treating a wound of the human subject. The composition may comprise an effective amount of the IL-1 RA substitute such that the composition is effective in the treatment of the wound. The composition may comprise an effective amount of the IL-1 RA substitute such that the composition is effective in reducing scar formation when the composition is applied to the wound. The IL- 1 RA substitute may be anakinra.

[00119] A method of treating a human subject may comprise administering an effective amount of a composition comprising an IL-1 RA substitute and at least one human stem cell that expresses IL-1 RA to the human subject, and thereby treating a wound of the human subject. The composition may comprise an effective amount of the IL-1 RA substitute such that the composition is effective in the treatment of the wound. The composition may comprise an effective amount of the IL-1 RA substitute such that the composition is effective in reducing scar formation when the composition is applied to the wound. The composition may comprise an effective amount of human stem cells that are effective in the treatment of the wound. The composition may comprise an effective amount of human stem cells such that the composition is effective in reducing scar formation when the composition is applied to the wound. The composition may comprise an effective amount of the IL-1 RA substitute and an effective amount of the human stem cells such that the composition is effective in the treatment of the wound. The composition may comprise the IL-1 RA substitute and an effective amount of human stem cells such that the composition is effective in reducing scar formation when the composition is applied to the wound. The human stem cell may comprise a human mesenchymal stem cell. The human stem cell may comprise a human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell, a human dental pulp stem cell, a human stem cell from human exfoliated deciduous teeth, a human periodontal ligament stem cell, a human dental follicle stem cell, a human tooth germ progenitor cell, a human stem cell from an apical papilla, a human epithelial progenitor/stem cell, a human gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cell, a human periosteum-derived stem cell, a human salivary gland-derived stem cell, or a combination thereof. The human stem cell may comprise a human gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cell. The IL-1 RA substitute may be anakinra.

[00120] A composition may comprise human IL-1 RA. The human IL-1 RA may be derived from at least one human stem cell. The composition may comprise an effective amount of the human IL-1 RA such that the composition is effective in a treatment of a wound. The composition may comprise an effective amount of the human IL-1 RA such that the composition is effective in reducing scar formation when the composition is applied to a wound. The human stem cell may comprise a mesenchymal stem cell. The human stem cell may comprise a human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell, a human dental pulp stem cell, a human stem cell from human exfoliated deciduous teeth, a human periodontal ligament stem cell, a human dental follicle stem cell, a human tooth germ progenitor cell, a human stem cell from an apical papilla, a human epithelial progenitor/stem cell, a human gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cell, a human periosteum-derived stem cell, a human salivary gland-derived stem cell, or a combination thereof. The human stem cell may comprise a human gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cell.

[00121] The composition may further comprise a human stem cell. The human stem cell may comprise a human mesenchymal stem cell. The human stem cell may comprise a human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell, a human dental pulp stem cell, a human stem cell from human exfoliated deciduous teeth, a human periodontal ligament stem cell, a human dental follicle stem cell, a human tooth germ progenitor cell, a human stem cell from an apical papilla, a human epithelial progenitor/stem cell, a human gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cell, a human periosteum-derived stem cell, a human salivary gland-derived stem cell, or a combination thereof. The human stem cell may comprise a human gingiva- derived mesenchymal stem cell.

[00122] The composition may further comprise a stem cell culture. The stem cell culture may comprise a human mesenchymal stem cell. The stem cell culture may comprise a human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell, a human dental pulp stem cell, a human stem cell from human exfoliated deciduous teeth, a human periodontal ligament stem cell, a human dental follicle stem cell, a human tooth germ progenitor cell, a human stem cell from an apical papilla, a human epithelial progenitor/stem cell, a human gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cell, a human periosteum-derived stem cell, a human salivary gland-derived stem cell, or a combination thereof. The stem cell culture may comprise a human gingiva- derived mesenchymal stem cell.

[00123] The wound may be any injury to any living tissue of a mammal. The tissue may be skin. The injury may be caused by a cut or blow. The mammal may be a human. The mammal may be a non-human animal.

[00124] Any combination of features disclosed above may be possible and thereby within the scope of this disclosure. For example, any combination of above products (e.g. compositions) and methods (e.g. methods of treatment) is within the scope of this disclosure. [00125] These, as well as other components, steps, features, objects, benefits, and advantages, will now become clear from a review of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.

BRI EF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[00126] The drawings are of illustrative embodiments. They do not illustrate all embodiments. Other embodiments may be used in addition or instead. Details that may be apparent or unnecessary may be omitted to save space or for more effective illustration. Some embodiments may be practiced with additional components or steps and/or without all of the components or steps that are illustrated. When the same numeral appears in different drawings, it refers to the same or like components or steps.

[00127] FIG. 1. Cytokine array data showed that GMSCs expressed significant higher level of several cytokines including IL-1 RA than SMSCs.

[00128] FIG. 2. (A) Western blotting showed SMSCs express less IL-1 RA and FAS compared with GMSCs in wild-type mouse. (B) ELISA showed GMSCs released higher level of IL-1 RA in culture supernatant compared with SMSCs. (C) Western blotting data showed that human GMSCs have the same trend as the mouse GMSCs, which expressed a higher FAS and IL-1 RA in cytoplasm. (D) Western blotting showed that when use fas siRNA to block the FAS expression in human GMSCs, the IL-1 RA level in human GMSCs will increase just as the observation in mouse GMSCs.

[00129] FIG. 3. (A) Immunofluorescence staining showed NESTIN+

mesenchymal stem cells were positive with IL-1 RA expression in gingiva while not in skin. (B) Statistical analysis showed that in gingiva/mucosa, there were significantly high number of IL-1 RA+ and NESTIN+ mesenchymal stem cells when compared with skin.

[00130] FIG. 4. (A) Wound (1 .5mm in diameter) healing delayed in IL-1 RA KO mice at day 5. (B)Statistical analysis showed that the wound size was significantly larger in the IL-1 RA KO mice than in the wild type control.

[00131] FIG. 5. (A) Schematic diagram of using IL-1 RA neutralizing antibody to study the mucosa wound healing. (B) Pretreatment with IL-1 RA neutralizing antibody compromised the mucosa wound healing in WT mice in multiple time points. (C) Statistical analysis showed that during each time course, the IL-1 RA neutralizing antibody significantly delayed the wound healing process in wild type mice.

[00132] FIG. 6. Skin wound healed much faster in the WT compared with the IL- 1 RA KO mice at multiple time point.

[00133] FIG. 7. (A) GMSCs and SMSCs had same mRNA expression level of soluble IL-1 RA. (B) GMSCs had a significantly higher mRNA expression level of intracellular IL-1 RA when compared with SMSCs.

[00134] FIG. 8. (A) WT GMSCs secreted a higher level of IL-1 RA in culture supernatant than Ipr GMSCs. (B) Western blotting showed that Ipr GMSCs remained more IL-1 RA in cytoplasm. (C and D) When WT GMSCs with fas gene knock down, the IL-1 RA was blocked in the cell with less secreted into the culture supernatant. (E and F) When Ipr GMSCs over expressed FAS, the IL-1 RA secretion was enhanced with less remained in cells.

[00135] FIG. 9. Sucrose gradient centrifuge showed that IL-1 RA was contained in the vesicle in very small size. The vesicle membrane associated protein 5 (VAMP5) showed a overlapping distribution with IL-1 RA.

[00136] FIG. 10. (A-C) Immunoprecipitation experiment showed that

phosphorylated CAVEOLIN-1 had more binding to SNAP25 and IL-1 RA, inhibiting the IL-1 RA from release.

[00137] FIG. 11. (A) Immunofluorescence staining showed co-localization of FAS, CAV-1 and SNAP25 on WT GMSCs membrane. (B-D) Knock down cav-1 and snap25 gene by siRNA showed the impaired release of IL-1 RA into culture supernatant. (E) Sucrose gradient centrifuge showed that IL-1 RA was contained in the vesicle of small size. (E and F) Western blotting showed that Ipr GMSCs had a higher level of phospho-CAVEOLIN-1 , which was due to the FAS

expression maintained the proper function of FAP-1 . When knock down the fap-1 gene by siRNA, WT GMSCs also showed a higher phospho-CAVEOLIN-1 level.

[00138] FIG. 12. (A) Immunofluorescence staining showed Ipr GMSCs expressed higher level of phospho-CAVEOLIN-1 . (B) Immunofluorescence staining showed alter the caveolae distribution in Ipr GMSCs. [00139] FIG. 13. (A) When using the FAS neutralizing antibody to trigger FAS signaling, WT GMSCs also showed no difference in IL-1 RA release. (B) Both WT and Ipr GMSCs expressed the calcium channel protein Cav 2.1 and 2.2 which are responsible for Ca+ controlled vesicle release. (C and D) When using chemical to block both of the calcium channel protein, WT GMSCs showed no difference in IL- 1 RA release. (E) When using TGF-βΙ to stimulate GMSCs, the cells expressed a higher level of FAS and FAP-1 . (F) Western blotting showed that after IFN-γ stimulation of the WT GMSCs, the cells showed a decreased level of phospho- CAVEOLIN1 , which would further activate the secretory machinery system on cell membrane to release IL-1 RA. (G) The ELISA data confirmed that when stimulated with IFN-γ, WT GMSCs had a higher IL-1 RA concentration in culture supernatant. (H) When Ipr GMSCs were treated with IFN-γ, the phospho-CAVEOLINI level remained no change due to their lack of functional FAS on the membrane. (I) ELISA data showed that there was no significant concentration change of IL-1 RA found in Ipr GMSCs culture supernatant.

[00140] FIG. 14. (A) Schematic diagram of using IL-1 RA substitute to rescue the skin wound healing. (B) Skin wound healed much faster in the IL-1 RA treated group compared with the saline treated control at multiple time point. (C) H&E staining showed that less inflammatory cells infiltration and better collagen deposition were observed in the IL-1 RA treatment group.

[00141] FIG. 15. (A) SMSCs when treated with IL-1 β had a elevated NF-KB signaling pathway leading to SMAD7 production, which inhibited the TGF-β pathway, while the IL-1 RA can antagonize the IL-1 β function. (B) TGF-βΙ reaction plasmid showed the the IL-1 β largely inhibited the TGF-βΙ effect on the SMSCs, However IL-1 RA could significantly rescue the inhibition.

[00142] FIG. 16. (A) Less scar area and better aligned the collagen deposition were observed in the group of low dosage IL-1 RA treated rabbit ear wound model. Although high dosage of IL-1 RA treatment slightly compromised this effect, it still showed significantly better treatment effect when compared with the saline treated control group. (B) Statistical analysis showed that during each time course, the IL- 1 RA substitute significantly reduced the scar formation in rabbit ear model. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF I LLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[00143] Illustrative embodiments are now discussed. Other embodiments may be used in addition or instead. Certain details which may be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art or unnecessary may have been omitted from this disclosure to to provide for a clear and concise disclosure. Conversely, some embodiments may be practiced without all of the details which are disclosed.

[00144] The following acronyms and abbreviations were used in this disclosure.

[00145] BMMSC: Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells.

[00146] Con or Cont: Control.

[00147] Co-cul: Co-culture.

[00148] ELISA: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique.

[00149] Fas-L: Fas ligand.

[00150] GMSC: Gingiva derived mesenchymal stem cell.

[00151] g: Gram

[00152] IL: Interleukin.

[00153] IL-1 : interleukin-1 .

[00154] IL-10: interleukin 10.

[00155] IL-1 RA: interleukin-1 receptor antagonist.

[00156] IFN-γ: interferon-γ.

[00157] kg: Kilogram.

[00158] mm: Millimeter.

[00159] mL: Milliliter.

[00160] MSC: Mesenchymal stem cell.

[00161] PBS: Phosphate-buffered saline.

[00162] PBMC: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

[00163] PCR: Polymerase chain reaction.

[00164] PD: Population doublings

[00165] RANKL: Receptor activator of nuclear factor κΒ ligand.

[00166] RT-PCT: Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. [00167] SD: Standard deviation.

[00168] SMSC: Skin derived mesenchymal stem cell.

[00169] TNF: Tumor necrosis factor.

[00170] TUNEL: Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated UTP nick-end labeling.

[00171] g: Microgram.

[00172] μητ Micrometer.

[00173] This disclosure in general relates to a treatment. This disclosure relates to a stem cell treatment. This disclosure also relates to an I L-1 RA treatment. This disclosure also relates to a composition comprising stem cells and to methods for the preparation of this composition. This disclosure also relates to a composition comprising I L-1 RA and to methods for the preparation of this composition. This disclosure further relates to a wound treatment using stem cells and/or I L-1 RA. This disclosure also further relates to a treatment to reduce scar formation by using a stem cell and/or I L-1 RA.

[00174] The treatment (i.e. method) includes, but not limited to, diagnosis, therapy, cure, healing, mitigation, or prevention of a wound, and/or cosmetic treatment of a mammal. Exemplary methods for treatment (e.g., administering the compositions disclosed herein) include systemic injection or infusion, localized application or injection (including topical application), or other suitable means of formulation and delivery.

[00175] This disclosure particularly relates to GMSCs that, when challenged by wound induced inflammatory cytokines, may increase their FAS expression leading to an elevated release of anti-inflammatory peptide(s) (e.g, via

microvesicle mediated release) to counterbalance the local inflammatory environment, and thereby may improve wound healing and/or reduce scar formation.

[00176] The wound may be any injury to any living tissue. An example of tissue may be skin. Examples of injury may be caused by trauma, such as a cut, blow, or other impact, including accidental and surgical reasons. The living tissue may be a living tissue of a mammal. [00177] The mammal may be a human. The mammal may be a non-human animal. For example, the mammal may be a non-human primate, a horse, a sheep, a cattle, a hog, a dog, a cat, and a goat.

[00178] This disclosure relates to a composition. The composition may be a cell culture. The composition may be a drug or a biologic formulation. The composition may be used in the treatment of a wound. An exemplary composition may comprise a stem cell, IL-1 RA, an IL-1 RA substitute, a stem cell and IL-1 RA, a stem cell and an IL-1 RA substitute, a stem cell and IL-1 RA and an IL-1 RA substitute, or a combination thereof. The IL-1 RA can be intracellular IL-1 RA present in a stem cell. In all embodiments of this disclosure, it is preferred that the compositions are prepared from multipotent or pluripotent stem cells, and not from totipotent stem cells. More preferably, the compositions are prepared from multipotent stem cells, and not from pluripotent or totipotent stem cells.

[00179] Stem cells, which are suitable for preparation of the exemplary composition, may be any stem cell of any mammal. For example, the stem cells may be stem cells of a mammal that undergoes the treatment (i.e. autologous stem cell treatment). Or, the stem cells may be stem cells of a mammal other than the mammal that undergoes the treatment (i.e. allogeneic stem cell treatment).

[00180] Examples of the stem cells may be embryonic stem cells, fetal stem cells, adult stem cells, amniotic stem cells, cord blood stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, or combinations thereof.

[00181] An example of the stem cells, that are useful in the preparation of the composition, may comprise a mesenchymal stem cell. Examples of mesenchymal stem cells may comprise bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells, dental pulp stem cells, stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth, periodontal ligament stem cells, dental follicle stem cells, tooth germ progenitor cells, stem cells from the apical papilla, oral epithelial progenitor/stem cells, gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells, periosteum-derived stem cells, salivary gland-derived stem cells, adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells, and combinations thereof. For example, the stem cells may be cultured mesenchymal stem cells, uncultured gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells, dental pulp stem cells, bone-marrow- derived stem cells, and combinations thereof. [00182] One example of the stem cells, that is useful in the preparation of the composition, may comprise a bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cell (BMMSC).

[00183] Another example of the stem cells, that is useful in the preparation of the composition, may comprise a gingiva derived mesenchymal stem cell

(GMSC). The stem cells may be the isolated GMSCs. For isolation of the GMSCs, for example, see Le et al. in a United States patent application publication, entitled "Gingiva Derived Stem Cell and Its Application in Immunomodulation and

Reconstruction," Publication No. U.S. 2012/0128636 A1 ; Le et al. in a United States patent application publication, entitled "Pharmaceutical Compositions Comprising Gingiva Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Methods of Treating Inflammation, Wound Healing and Contact Hypersensitivity," Publication No. U.S. 2013/0295058 A1 ; and Shi et al. in a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) patent application publication, entitled "A Composition of Mesenchymal Stem Cells," Publication No. WO 2014210037 A2. The entire contents of these patent application publications are incorporated herein by reference.

[00184] This disclosure also relates to a method of preparation of the

composition ("preparation method").

[00185] One example of the preparation method may comprise obtaining a tissue, separating the tissue into cells, sorting a stem cell, and preparing a composition comprising the stem cells.

[00186] The tissue may be any tissue that contains a stem cell. For example, the tissue may comprise a mammalian tissue. In one example, the tissue may comprise a bone marrow tissue. In another example, the tissue may comprise a gingival tissue. The mammal may be a human. The mammal may be a non- human animal. For example, the mammal may be a non-human primate, a horse, a sheep, cattle, a hog, a dog, a cat, and a goat. The tissue may comprise a stem cell. The stem cells may be any stem cells. For example, the stem cells may be any stem cells disclosed above.

[00187] Another example of the preparation method may comprise obtaining a plurality of tissues, separating these tissues into cells, sorting the stem cells, and using the stem cells in the preparation of the composition. In this example, the plurality of tissues may comprise tissues obtained from different tissues of a mammal. For example, the first tissue may be a bone marrow tissue and the second tissue may be a gingival tissue.

[00188] The tissue may be obtained from a mammal that undergoes the treatment. In this method, the treatment may be an autologous stem cell treatment. The tissue may be obtained from a mammal other than the mammal that undergoes the treatment. In this method, the treatment may be an allogeneic stem cell treatment. Combination of said treatment methods may also be applied. For example, the treatment may comprise an autologous stem cell treatment and an allogeneic stem cell treatment.

[00189] The separating the tissue into cells may be done by a mechanical method, a chemical method, or a combination of a mechanical and a chemical method.

[00190] Examples of the mechanical method may be mincing, shredding, filtering, and the like. In other examples, the tissue may be separated into cells by using homogenizers, ultrasonicators, ball mills, and the like. A combination of these mechanical methods may also be used to have separated cells.

[00191] Examples of the chemical method may be digestion of the tissue by using acids, bases, and enzymes. For example, a collagenase and a dispase may be used to digest the tissue. The collagenase may be collagenase type I. The dispase may be dispase II. A combination of these chemical methods may also be used to have separated cells.

[00192] The preparation method may further comprise preparing cell

suspensions from the digested tissue by using a mechanical method. An example of such method may be filtering the digested tissue to obtain cell suspensions. The cell suspensions may be single-cell suspensions. For example, single-cell suspensions may be obtained by passing the digested gingival tissue through a 70-micrometer trainer.

[00193] Culturing the separated cells may comprise providing a solid surface, seeding the cells on the solid surface, culturing the seeded cells, and thereby obtaining a culture comprising cells that may be adherent to the solid surface ("adherent cells") and cells that may not be adherent to the solid surface ("nonadherent cells").

[00194] The solid surface may be a surface of any solid article suitable for culturing cells. For example, it may be a wall of a culture vessel. The culture vessel may be any desired culture vessel. For example, the culture vessel may be a petri dish or a cell-culture dish. The solid article may also be a bead or a particle. The solid article may have any desired size. For example, it may be a nano- particle.

[00195] The cell may be seeded using a solution. The solution may comprise a medium suitable for culturing the mammalian cell. An example of such medium may be a-MEM manufactured by Invitrogen (Carlsbad, CA). The solution may further comprise fetal bovine serum (FBS), L-glutamine, 2-mercaptoethanol, penicillin, and streptomycin.

[00196] The preparation method may further comprise eliminating from the culture the cells that are not adherent to the solid surface. For example, the culture may be washed using PBS or other suitable buffer to eliminate from the culture the cells that are not adherent to the solid surface.

[00197] The adherent cells may further be cultured, for example, in the same conditions disclosed above.

[00198] The preparation method may further comprise dissociating from the solid surface the cells that may be adherent to the solid surface. The adherent cells may be dissociated from the solid surface by using an enzyme. The enzyme, for example, may be trypsin.

[00199] The preparation method may further comprise expanding the cultured cells. For example, the expanding the cultured cells may comprise doubling stem cells by repetitively re-seeding (passaging) them using the preparation methods disclosed above.

[00200] As disclosed in the above examples, the preparation method may comprise separating the tissue into cells and sorting the stem cells. Some examples of suitable methods for separating the tissue into cells and the sorting the stem cells have been previously disclosed. For example, for separating gingival tissue into cells, and sorting and isolating GMSCs, see Le et al. in a United States patent application publication, "Gingiva Derived Stem Cell and Its Application in Immunomodulation and Reconstruction" U.S. 2012/0128636 A1 ; and Shi et al. in a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) patent application serial number PCT/US14/43918, "A Composition of Mesenchymal Stem Cells". The entire content of these patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.

[00201] The preparation method may further comprise culturing the separated cells before sorting the stem cells. The sorting may comprise sorting cells that are positive for a stem cell marker, e.g., using an antibody labeled with a suitable label such as fluorescein isothiocyanate.

[00202] This disclosure also relates to a method of administration of the composition comprising a stem cell, IL-1 RA, an IL-1 RA substitute, a stem cell and IL-1 RA, a stem cell and an IL-1 RA substitute, a stem cell and IL-1 RA and an IL- 1 RA substitute, or a combination thereof ("administration method"). The IL-1 RA can be intracellular IL-1 RA present in a stem cell. The administration method may comprise any method suitable for administration of a cell or a tissue. The administration method may comprise any method suitable for administration of IL- 1 RA. The composition comprising the stem cells and/or IL-1 RA suitable for the treatment purposes may be administered (or delivered) in various ways. For example, they may be infused, injected at various sites, or surgically implanted. In some embodiments, the method may comprise administration of a stem cell and an IL-1 RA substitute, either as component of a single composition or as separate compositions. When administered as separate compositions, the compositions are administered to provide for overlap in the therapeutic activity of the stem cell and the IL-1 RA substitute. As described herein, the stem cell can include intracellular IL-1 RA which can be released when the stem cell encounters proinflammatory stimuli (e.g., pro-inflammatory cytokines).

[00203] Suitable compositions include, for example, a stem cell and/or IL-1 RA suspension in a liquid (preferably aqueous) medium, or the stem cells in

aggregated form with or without solid supports or encapsulating materials. The liquid medium may be a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid medium. The liquid medium may be suitable for injection. Suitable liquid media are generally well known and include, for example, normal saline (with or without glucose and/or potassium), Ringer's solution, Lactated Ringer's solution, and Hartmann's solution.

[00204] The composition may be administered in an amount effective to treat a mammal. The amount of the stem cells, IL-1 RA, IL-1 RA substitute, or a

combination thereof in the composition ("dose") may be an amount effective to treat a mammal. "A combination thereof" here means any combination of the stem cell, IL-1 RA, IL-1 RA substitute. Examples of such combinations are disclosed above. The amount and/or concentration of stem cells, IL-1 RA, IL-1 RA substitute, or a combination thereof in the composition can be selected to provide for convenient administration of an amount (of the composition that is acceptable for the mammal being treated). For example, a liquid composition that contain a high concentration of the stem cells, IL-1 RA, IL-1 RA substitute, or a combination thereof is suitable for injection of a relatively small volume into solid tissue, while a liquid composition that contains a lower concentration of the stem cells, IL-1 RA, IL-1 RA substitute, or a combination thereof may be advantageous for

administration by intravenous infusion. Suitable liquid compositions can contain, for example, about 1 *10 ¹ stem cells/mL to about 1 *10 ¹⁰ stem cells /mL, or about 1 ^χ 10 ⁵ stem cells/mL to about 1 *10 ⁷ stem cells/mL, or about 1 ^χ 10 ⁶ stem cells/mL to 5x10 ⁶ stem cells/mL. Aggregated or solid compositions can contain, for example, about 1 ^χ 10 ¹ stem cells/mg to about 1 ^χ 10 ¹⁰ stem cells/g.

[00205] The composition may further comprise a carrier. The carrier may be suitable to host the stem cells and/or IL-1 RA. Example of the carrier may be in the form of matrices, tissues, fibers, beads, or other materials.

[00206] The composition may comprise stem cells in an amount in the range of 1 x10 ¹ stem cells/kg to 1 x 10 ¹⁰ stem cells/kg, or 1 x10 ⁵ stem cells/kg to 1 x10 ⁷ stem cells/kg, or 1 x 10 ⁶ stem cells/kg to 5x10 ⁶ stem cells/kg.

[00207] For therapeutic purposes, an effective amount of the composition is administered to a mammal in need thereof. An "effective amount" in an amount that produces the desired effect under the conditions of administration, for example, an amount sufficient to treat a wound, inhibit inflammation, inhibit an immune or autoimmune response, inhibit bone loss, inhibit tumor growth or metastisis, promote wound healing, or promote colony formation, osteogenesis or adipogenesis. The exact dosage of stem cells and/or IL-1 RA to be administered may dependent upon a variety of factors, including the age, weight, and sex of the mammal, the disease being treated, and the extent and severity thereof. A clinician of ordinary skill can determine the appropriate dose and method for administration based on these and other considerations.

[00208] Any combination of products such as compositions comprising stem cells and/or IL-1 RA, methods of their preparation, and methods of their use that are described herein may also be made and followed.

[00209] Other exemplary embodiments of this disclosure are as follows.

Example 1 . IL-1 RA may play a critical anti-inflammatory role in oral wound healing.

[00210] In this example, both gingiva derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) and skin derived mesenchymal stem cells (SMSCs) were cultured form the same mouse and the culture supernatant was collected for a cytokine array. The cytokines derived from these two types of cells had a significantly different profile (FIG. 1 )

[00211] Among these differences, one of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-1 RA showed a significantly higher expression level in GMSCs when compared with SMSCs. Inflammation, the first stage of wound repair, occurs immediately after tissue damage. Meanwhile, components of the coagulation cascade, inflammatory pathways and immune system are required to prevent ongoing blood losses and infection (Gurtner et al., 2008). A key damaging player in the pro-inflammatory response in numerous and diverse injuries is the cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1 ) (Allan et al., 2005). Within the IL-1 ligand family, IL-1 RA is a natural receptor antagonist (Dinarello, 2010). IL-1 RA binds IL-1 R1 with an affinity higher than that of IL-1 but fails to recruit the IL-1 RAcP (Garlanda et al., 2013), therefore, inhibit the downstream pathway being activated.

[00212] The western blotting assay was used to show that SMSCs express less IL-1 RA when compared with GMSCs in wild-type control mice (FIG. 2A), while the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) result showed that GMSCs also released higher level of IL-1 RA in culture supernatant compared with SMSCs

(FIG. 2B) [00213] This finding was also tested on the human cells. Human GMSCs also showed an elevated expression of IL-1 RA both in cells and in culture supernatant when compared with the human SMSCs (FIG. 2C). This finding was also confirmed on human GMSCs. When fas siRNA was used to knock down the FAS expression on human GMSCs, the IL-RA expression level in cell increased dramatically (FIG. 2D).

[00214] To further confirm the IL-1 RA expression profile in in vivo scenario, the NESTIN was used as a marker to label the MSCs as previously described

(Mendez-Ferrer et al., 2010) to localize the MSCs in vivo. The

immunofluorescence staining showed NESTIIsT mesenchymal stem cells were positive with IL-1 RA expression in gingiva while rarely observed in skin (FIG. 3A). Statistical analysis showed that in gingiva/mucosa, there are significantly higher number of IL-1 RA ⁺ and NESTIIsT mesenchymal stem cells when compared with skin (FIG. 3B).

[00215] In order to confirm the contribution of IL-1 RA in the GMSCs to gingiva mucosa wound healing, the mucosa wound on IL-1 RA KO mouse and WT mouse were compared. An about 1.5 mm in diameter of skin was punched on the palate of the mice and the mice was fed with the soft food. The mice were sacrificed after a predetermined time and the wound area was calculated for statistical analyses. The data showed that wound healing was significantly delayed in IL-1 RA KO mice at each time point (about 5 days after the wound was formed) (FIG. 4A).

Statistical analysis confirmed what histological observation indicated (FIG. 4B).

[00216] In order to exclude the effect of the IL-1 RA secreted by other types of immune cells in a wound at a later stage, the IL-1 RA neutralizing antibody was also used to block the IL-1 RA in wild-type mice before the wound formation (FIG. 5A). The results were consistent with those shown with the IL-1 RA KO mouse, which suggests that the blockage of the IL-1 RA in the beginning stage of the wound was enough to delay the wound healing in mucosa (FIG. 5B). Statistical analysis showed that during each time course, the IL-1 RA neutralizing antibody significantly delayed the wound healing process in wild type mice (FIG. 5C). It was also confirmed that IL-1 RA knockout mice showed delayed skin wound healing (FIG. 6) Example 2. FAS may serve as a key molecule in the secretion of IL-1 RA

[00217] There are four isotypes of IL-1 RA found up till now. One of the isotype is a secreted soluble form of IL-1 RA with a signaling peptide at the beginning of the protein, which can actively release from cells. In addition to secreted soluble IL-1 RA, there are also intracellular isoforms, which are usually considered a reservoir of IL-1 RA, to be released upon cell death, limiting the proinflammatory action of tissue damage (Muzio et al., 1995).

[00218] The real-time PCR data showed that GMSCs and SMSCs had same mRNA expression level of soluble IL-1 RA (FIG. 7A), while GMSCs had a significantly higher mRNA expression level of intracellular IL-1 RA when compared with SMSCs (FIG. 7B).

[00219] As shown previously that fas KO (Ipr) mice may have deficiency in cytokine release on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs). Therefore, two cell types, wild-type GMSCs (WT) and Fas deficient GMSCs (Ipr) were tested for their cytokine release profile. It was shown that WT GMSCs secreted a higher level of IL-1 RA in culture supernatant than Ipr GMSCs by ELISA (FIG. 8A). Also, the western blotting assay showed that Ipr GMSCs remained more IL-1 RA in cytoplasm (FIG. 8B). To further verify this finding, when the WT GMSCs were treated with fas siRNA, the IL-1 RA protein was blocked in the cell with less secreted into the culture supernatant shown by ELISA (FIG. 8C) and with more remained in cell as was shown by western blotting assay (FIG. 8D). Moreover, when FAS was over expressed in Ipr GMSCs, the IL-1 RA secretion was enhanced as more IL-1 RA was detected in the culture supernatant by ELISA (FIG. 8E) and less IL-1 RA remained in cells as shown by western blotting assay (FIG. 8F).

Example 3. FAS may work together with CAVEOLIN1 and SNARE family member in IL-1 RA releasing.

[00220] In this example, the cell membrane transportation was investigated. Since the type of intracellular IL-1 RA does not have the signaling peptide allowing it to be automatically transported outside of the cell, it may be packaged into vesicle and transported by proper machinery system on the cell membrane.

Therefore, first, a main lipid raft structure named caveolae was found. It dynamically participates in a number of cellular processes including signal transduction, lipid regulation and membrane trafficking (Parton er a/., 2013), which has a key protein CAVEOLIN 1 (CAV1 ). Besides, the Soluble NSF Attachment Protein Receptor (SNARE) family proteins may also be involved. SNARE proteins are a large protein superfamily to mediate the exocytosis of

cellular transport vesicles with the cell membrane in yeast and mammalian cells (Sutton er a/. , 1998). Some key molecules in this family were SYNTAXIN,

SNAP25 and Vesicle Associated Membrane Protein (VAMP).

[00221] These key molecules were tested to see any of them work together with FAS to mediate the IL-1 RA release. First, the sucrose gradient centrifuge methods were used to determine whether IL-1 RA was packaged within certain size of the vesicles. As show in FIG. 9, IL-1 RA appeared in fractions #1 -#4, which were the smallest sized fractions. It was found that the Vesicle Associated Membrane Protein 5 (VAMP5) was co-localized with IL-1 RA in same fractions. The

immunoprecipitation experiment was carried out to confirm the molecules functioning in complex for the IL-1 RA containing vesicle releasing. The western blotting assay of the protein pulled down by FAS antibody showed that in WT GMSCs, FAS were binding with CAV1 , SYNTAXIN, SNAP25, VAMP5 and IL-1 RA (FIG. 10A-10C)

[00222] The binding was also confirmed at the cell level, as the

immunofluorescence staining showed co-localization of FAS, CAV-1 , SYNTAXIN and SNAP25 on WT GMSCs membrane (FIG. 11 A-11 D). To further verify the complex components, an immunoprecipitation experiment was carried out to pull down every of the previously detected molecule to investigate their binding details. As shown by western blotting assay, when the protein was pulled down by

SYNTAXIN antibody, FAS, CAV1 , SNAP25, VAMP 5 and IL-1 RA were found to bind together in WT GMSCs while not in Ipr GMSCs (FIG. 11 E, 11 F). However, when the CAV-1 antibody was used to pull down the target protein, it was found that all the other molecules remained the same trend as seen in the previous immunoprecipitation except SYNTAXIN, which showed a similar binding in both WT and Ipr GMSCs (FIG. 10B). The result indicated that in WT and Ipr GMSCs, the CAV1 can bind with the SYNTAXIN indifferently.

[00223] The CAV1 protein can be phosphorylated at Tyr14 and this

phosphorylation has been linked to membrane internalization, endocytosis, focal adhesion stability and dynamics, directional cell migration and extra cellular matrix remodeling (Parton et al., 2013 and del Pozo et al., 2005). Therefore, the phospho-CAV1 expression was tested in both WT and Ipr GMSCs. It was found that there is a much higher expression of the phospho-CAV1 in Ipr GMSCs as shown by western blotting assay (FIG. 11 E).

[00224] In previous studies, CAV1 was usually believed to be phosphorylated by Src family proteins. However, when the universal phospho-Src expression was tested in both WT and Ipr GMSCs, there was no difference (FIG. 11 E). Since the Ipr GMSCs have the mutation on fas gene, FAS may be the key mediator in this phosphorylation. FAS related phosphatase was searched and found FAS

Associated Phosphatase-1 (FAP-1 ) may function in CAV1 dephosphorylation. Though the expression of the FAP-1 in both WT and Ipr GMSCs remained the same (FIG. 11 E), the siRNA was used to knock down the fap-1 gene expression to verify its function in cell. When the FAP-1 expression was knocked down in WT GMSCs, the phospho-CAV1 expression was increased but the phospho-Src remained unchanged. Consequently, the IL-1 RA concentration in cytoplasm was increased (FIG. 11 F). The immunocytofluorescence staining was also used to confirm the phospho-CAV1 expression on the cell level.

[00225] As shown by the immunofluorescence staining, Ipr GMSCs expressed higher level of phospho-CAVEOLIN-1 (FIG. 12A). Previous studies showed that the CAV1 phosphorylation may cause the alteration of the caveolae structure in order to fulfill the physiological functions. The immunofluorescence staining also showed the altered the caveolae distribution in Ipr GMSCs (FIG. 12B). In this example, the western blotting assay was used to analyze the proteins by pulling down by phospho-CAV1 immunoprecipitation. FAS, SYNTAXIN, IL-1 RA and VAMP5 were rarely found bound with the phospho-CAV1 in both WT and Ipr GMSCs. However, more SNAP25 was bound with phospho-CAV1 in Ipr GMSCs when compared with WT GMSCs (FIG. 10C). Thus, these results showed that the phosphorylation of CAV1 would bind with the SNAP25, therefore, inhibiting the SNAP25 binding together with SYNTAXIN to trigger the machinery complex to release the IL-1 RA containing vesicles.

[00226] To further confirm this complex on the functional level, the siRNA was used to knock down cavl, syntaxin, snap25 and vamp5 gene expression in WT GMSCs. The western blotting assay showed that knocked down protein

expression of the CAV1 , SYNTAXIN, SNAP25 and VAMP25 all leaded to the increase of the IL-1 RA expression in cells (FIG. 11 B). And these were also confirmed by ELISA assay, which showed a decrease of the IL-1 RA concentration in cell culture supernatant (FIG. 11 D).

Example 4. IFN-γ signaling may modulate the IL-1 RA containing vesicle release.

[00227] The release mechanism of pathophysiological microenvironment was investigated in this example. First, regulation of the IL-1 RA releasing through FAS signaling was tested. The WT GMSCs were tested with different concentration of the FAS activating antibody to activate the FAS signaling. There was no change of the phospho-CAV1 , phospho-Src and IL-1 RA expression level in cells as shown by western blotting assay (FIG. 13A).

[00228] Since the SNARE family members, which were involved in microvesicle release, were being activated by calcium influx in neuron system, and then, calcium influx control of the IL-1 RA release was tested. Western blotting assay confirmed that two major calcium channel structure proteins functioning in neuron transmitter release - Ca _v 2.1 and Ca _v 2.2 showed very low expression in WT

GMSCs (FIG. 13B). Then, ω-Agatoxin TK and ω-Conotoxin GVIA, the antagonist of these two proteins, were used to block their function in cells to investigate change of the IL-1 RA expression levels. Western blotting data showed that the blockage of both Ca _v 2.1 and Ca _v 2.2 did not alter the IL-1 RA expression level in cells while the FAS expression level also remained same (FIG. 13C). The ELISA assay was used to confirm the IL-1 RA concentration in the cell culture

supernatant, which showed no change in any of the antagonist (FIG. 13D).

[00229] The environmentally derived signaling may modulate the IL-1 RA release. The cell was treated with the TGF-β, which was abundant in wound tissue. It was found that the TGF-β signaling pathway was activated in WT

GMSCS as the phospho-SMAD2 expression up-regulated. However, the IL-1 RA expression level did not change in cells as shown by western blotting (FIG. 13E). This was also confirmed by ELISA assay, which showed that the IL-1 RA

concentration remained unchanged in cell culture supernatant after TGF-β treatment (FIG. 13E). [00230] Another important category of signaling was that the inflammatory cytokines emerged after the wound creation. Therefore, the most common inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-a were chosen to test their function on IL- 1 RA release. It was found that when WT GMSCs were treated by IFN-γ and TNF- a, both FAS and FAP-1 expression were up-regulated. Consequently, the phospho-CAV1 level decreased (FIG. 13F). The ELISA assay showed that after the treatment of IFN-γ and TNF-a, the IL-1 RA concentration in the cell culture supernatant increased (FIG. 13G). Though TNF-a can also trigger the IL-1 RA release in WT GMSCs, when compared with the IFN- γ, its stimulation effect was mild.

Example 5. IL-1 RA substitute may ameliorate the skin wound healing

[00231] In this example, treatment of skin wounds by the IL-1 RA substitute was investigated. An example of IL-1 RA substitute may be Kineret® (anakinra), which is a recombinant, nonglycosylated form of the human IL-1 RA. Anakinra differs from native human in that it has the addition of a single methionine residue at its amino terminus. It may be produced by recombinant DNA technology using an E coli bacterial expression system. The composition may comprise IL-1 RA substitute with a concentration, for example, in the range of 1 mg to 1 ,000 mg per mL of the composition; or 10 mg to 200 mg per mL of the composition. The composition may comprise IL-1 RA substitute with a concentration, for example, in the range of 1 mg to 1 ,000 mg per gram of the composition; or 10 mg to 200 mg per gram of the composition.

[00232] Wounds on dorsal skin of the mice were formed by using a 4 mm diameter punch and the IL-1 RA substitute was infused around the wound site about 1 hour after the wound formation. The samples were collected and analyzed at different time points (FIG. 14A). As the data showed, the skin wounds healed much faster in the IL-1 RA treated group when compared with the saline treated control at each time point (FIG. 14B).

[00233] The statistical analysis of the results indicated the IL-1 RA substitute significantly improved the wound healing process in WT mice (FIG. 14B). The samples were further analyzed by histological sectioning using hemotoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining. The results showed less inflammatory cells infiltration and better collagen deposition in the IL-1 RA treatment group (FIG. 14C).

[00234] The skin fibroblast method was used to investigate contribution of IL- 1 RA to the wound healing. The skin fibroblast was treated with IL-1 β or IL-1 β together with IL-1 RA. The western blotting assay showed that the skin fibroblast, when treated with IL-1 β, had an elevated NF-κΒ signaling pathway leading to SMAD7 production, which inhibited the TGF-β pathway, while the administration of IL-1 RA can antagonize the IL-1 β function (FIG. 15A). Also, the TGF-β reaction reporter plasmid was transfected into the skin fibroblast to confirm this finding. The luciferase assay of TGF-βι signaling activity showed that the IL-1 β largely inhibited the TGF-βι effect on the skin fibroblast. However, IL-1 RA significantly rescued the inhibition (FIG. 15B).

[00235] The histological section of the wound sites on both WT and IL-1 RA KO mice were also compared. The IL-1 RA function on the rabbit ear scar model was also tested. About 6 mm wound was punched down to the cartilage on ventral side of the rabbit ear. A predetermined concentration of the Kineret® (anakinra) was administrated around the wound site about 1 hour after wound creation as was done in dorsal skin. Intriguingly, less scar area and even better aligned collagen deposition were observed in the group of rabbit treated with low dosage of IL-1 RA. Although high dosage of IL-1 RA treatment slightly compromised this effect, it still showed significantly better treatment effect when compared with the saline treated control group (FIG. 16A). The statistical analysis confirmed that the IL-1 RA substitute significantly reduced the scar formation in rabbit ear model (FIG. 16B)

Example 6.

[00236] In this disclosure, role of gingiva mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) in tissue wound repair was investigated. GMSCs may be stimulated by the adjacent inflammatory environment to release increasing amount of IL-1 RA to

counterbalance the exaggerated pro-inflammatory response and minimize the side effects of inflammation during the wound healing.

[00237] This function was mediated by FAS receptor, which was known for long time as a death-signaling molecule. By association of FAP-1 , FAS maintained the key cell membrane trafficking structure caveolae in an un-phosphorylated status to function properly with SNARE family in controlling the IL-1 RA containing vesicle release. Notably, this mechanism may not only affect the IL-1 RA but also various other cytokines as the cytokine array data showed a complete different profile for the FAS knockout cells. These results suggested that the IL-1 RA drug may be used in improving cutaneous wound healing and reducing the scar formation.

[00238] MSCs are multipotent cells, which can differentiate into different cell types, such as chondrocytes, osteoblasts, and adipocytes (Pittenger et al., 1999). Recent studies have also suggested that MSCs may influence immune and inflammatory responses (Uccelli et al., 2008). There may be a small number of dormant stem cells residing in almost all tissues that can be activated or migrate to sites of damaged tissue contributing to its repair (Phinney et al., 2007).

[00239] Since MSCs interact closely with various stromal cells and inflammatory cells on the site of damage by their immunosuppressive character (Sasaki et al., 2008 and Wu et al., 2007), MSC-derived trophic factors play an important role in these cell-to-cell interplays. In animal models, MSC-conditioned medium could, to some extent, mimic the therapeutic effects of MSCs in enhancing wound healing, and improving cardiac function following myocardial infarction (Chen et al., 2008; Gnecchi et ai, 2005 and Timmers et ai, 201 1 ).

[00240] In this disclosure, GMSCs had strong iclL-1 RA expression in ground status. These natural antagonists can be released and contribute to the mild lnterleukin-1 (IL-1 ) based inflammatory response in the gingiva/mucosa tissue, resulting in healing of their wounds. The IL-1 RA knockout mice showed a significantly delayed wound healing. When IL-1 RA substitutes were applied to the cutaneous wound, they also improved the wound healing process. On a rabbit ear scar model, the scar formation was reduced when the IL-1 RA applied shortly after the wound creation. These findings showed that gingiva/mucosa had a much- regulated inflammatory response during injury, and the regulatory effect largely depends on the GMSCs' innate function of releasing the anti-inflammatory cytokines.

[00241] Tissue wound usually initiates the activation of immune and

inflammatory cascade. Acute tissue damage is usually followed by immediate inflammation (Medzhitov et al., 2008). Cellular components released from necrotic cells and microvasculature damage lead to enhanced vasopermeability and infiltration of immune cells, which are the main source of inflammatory cytokines (Luster et al., 2005 and Eming et al., 2007). The initial studies on the

immunomodulatory effects of MSCs produced conflicting data (Uccelli et al., 2008), suggesting that the immunosuppressive property of MSCs could be affected by specific damage/disease-related tissue microenvironments.

[00242] Once MSCs have encountered the microenvironment of injured tissues, many factors, including inflammatory cytokines such as IFN-γ, TNF-a, IL-1 , toxins of infectious agents and hypoxia can stimulate them to release various growth factors, including transforming growth factor-b (TGF-β), epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1 ) (Shi et al., 2012; Aguilar et al. , 2009 and Hung et al. , 2012).

[00243] The multitude of paracrine factors may provoke tissue-resident cells such as fibroblasts to promote wound healing through their secretion of

extracellular matrix and matrix metalloproteinase. Several studies indicated that the priming of the MSCs by inflammatory cytokines is essential for MSC-mediated immunosuppression. Other studies also showed that pretreatment with

inflammatory cytokines can enhance the therapeutic effect of MSCs (Krampera et al., 2006; Sheng et al., 2008 and Mougiakakos et al., 201 1 ).

[00244] These data indicated the importance of the local inflammatory condition in regulating the plasticity of MSCs. Up to date, little was known about how these inflammatory stimulus function on MSCs. The limited reports on the mechanism of this type of MSCs "licensing" showing it was in a nuclear factor (NF)-KB- dependent manner.

[00245] In this disclosure, it was shown that upon the challenge by the IFN-γ, both FAS and its associate phosphatase (FAP-1 ) were upregulated through JAK/STAT 1 pathway to maintain the important membrane structure caveolae in an unphosphorylated form. This unphosphorylated status helped the SNARE machinery system within the caveolae structure to function properly on the secretion of IL-1 RA containing vesicle. [00246] Tissue injury initiates a complex set of events, which finally lead to wound repair. The wound healing process begins with inflammation. Studies using various models have shown that when compared to similar wounds in skin, wound healing in oral mucosa and gingiva is markedly faster, resulting to significantly reduced scar formation.

[00247] The reason for the preferential oral mucosal wound healing may in part depend on the milder and shorter inflammatory response in oral mucosa (Glim et al., 2013; Szpaderska et al., 2003 and Mak et al., 2009). Among all the proinflammatory factors immediately emerging around the lesion site, interleukin-1 (IL-1 ) family members are the first of which to be induced and detected (HCibner et al., 1996). IL-1 is a prototypical proinflammatory cytokine that stimulates both local and systemic responses with detrimental effects in skin lesions, inflammatory arthritis, fever and leukocytosis. However, these responses are also essential in the control and resolution of infections (Miller et al., 2006). Some of these effects are indirect, mediated through the induction of downstream cytokines and other inflammatory mediators (Dinarello et al., 1996).

[00248] In addition, IL-1 is also involved in the regulation of adaptive immune responses by inducing the differentiation of type 17 T-helper cells and the production of IL-17 in mice and humans (Chung et al., 2009 and Acosta- Rodriguez et ai, 2007). The proinflammatory activities of IL-1 are strictly controlled by several endogenous inhibitors, such as the first described naturally occurring antagonist IL-1 RA.

[00249] IL-1 RA binds tightly to IL-1 R1 , thereby blocking binding of IL-1 a and IL- 1 β. In the presence of IL-1 RA, the reduction of IL-17A and IL-22 is 82% and 71 %, respectively (van de Veerdonk et al., 2012). Moreover, unlike IL-1 a and IL-1 β, receptor-bound IL-1 RA does not allow recruitment of IL-1 RAP (Greenfeder et al., 1995), thus protect the downstream signaling being activated.

[00250] It was shown that the balance between IL-1 and IL-1 RA determines the overall inflammatory response (Arend, 2002). Deficiency of IL-1 RA in mice results in spontaneous and lethal arteritis, destructive arthritis, and psoriatic-like skin lesions, as well as increased susceptibility to carcinogenesis (Horai et al.,

2000 and Nicklin et ai, 2000). [00251] Children born with a genetic deficiency of IL-1 RA or functional inactive IL-1 RA suffer from severe systemic and local inflammation, including pustular skin eruptions, vasculitis, osteolytic lesions, and sterile osteomyelitis (Aksentijevich et al., 2009 and Reddy et al., 2009). IL-1 RA is produced as four different isoforms by using different first exons and alternative mRNA splicing and translation initiation codons. One isoform is secreted (slL-1 RA), whereas the three others lack a consensus leader peptide and remain intracellular (iclL-1 RA1 , iclL-1 RA2 and iclL-1 RA3). Intracellular forms of IL-1 RA are believed to release following cell death and act extracellularly on IL-1 R1 , similarly to the secreted form (Palmer et al., 2007).

[00252] In this disclosure, it was found that besides the cell death,

proinflammatory cytokines such as IFN-γ can stimulate the GMSCs to release high level of iclL-1 RA into the wound area, counterbalance the IL-1 signaling. Therefore, this may partially explain the reason of the mild inflammation observed after gingiva wound injury.

[00253] It was also shown that if the GMSCs are blocked on this response, either through the inhibition of the IFN-γ or IL-1 RA, gingiva wound healing may be significantly delayed when compared with the WT control. These results comply with the study of skin wound on IL-1 RA knockout mice (Ishida et al., 2006), proving that the newly found IL-1 RA releasing character on GMSCs is decisive in gingiva wound healing.

[00254] FAS (CD95/APO-1 ) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily (Trauth et al., 1989 and Yonehara et al., 1989). Studies on the FAS system focused primarily on its role in apoptosis. FAS is a prototypical death receptor with an intracellular "death domain" (DD), which is essential for transduction of the apoptotic signal (Locksley et al., 2001 ). Upon ligation by FAS- Ligand, FAS receptors multimerize and recruit FAS-associated death domain (FADD) through DD-DD interactions (Scott et al., 2009). FADD in turn recruits pro-caspase-8 through death effector domain (DED) forming death inducing signaling complex (DISC) (Tibbetts et al., 2003).

[00255] Depending on different signaling activation, apoptosis proceeds through either extrinsic or intrinsic apoptosis pathway (Scaffidi et al., 1998). Recent studies suggest, however, FAS may mediate other cellular non-apoptotic responses such as suppression of T-cell activation (Kovacs er a/., 1995), promoting the proliferation of CD3-activated primary T cells (Alderson er a/., 1993) and a variety of non-immunological cells including, fibroblasts, tumor cells, hepatic stellate cells and neural cells (Freiberg er a/., 1997; Chen er a/., 2010; Desbarats et al., 2000; Reinehr et al., 2008 and Lambert et al., 2003).

[00256] In addition, FAS system can promote cell migration and invasion, in particular in apoptosis-resistant malignant cells (Barnhart er a/., 2004; Li er a/., 2009; Trauzold et al., 2005 and Letellier et al., 2010). It was also shown that FAS signaling could trigger inflammation by promoting the inflammatory factors expression in different types of cells (Brint et al., 2013). Such factors may in turn recruit inflammatory cells, exacerbating the inflammatory process. FAS-induced inflammatory factor production predominantly involves the activation of

transcription factor NF-κΒ, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways (Zhang et al., 2009 and Palao et al., 2006) and the cross talk between toll-like receptor (TLR) family (Ma et al., 2004).

[00257] Some studies suggested that one of the key mechanisms of regulating the apoptotic or non-apoptotic pathway was the FAS receptor internalization. During the apoptotic process, DISC has been shown to continue binding with the internalized FAS receptor, while inhibition of FAS receptor internalization engages it to induce pro-survival pathways (Eramo er a/., 2004). Caveolae and CAVEOLIN- 1 (CAV1 ) have been known to involve in the internalization of FAS receptor complex, and blockade of CAV1 -mediated endocytosis diminishes cell apoptosis (Gajate er a/., 2001 ; Zhu er a/., 2009 and Guo er a/., 2009). Caveolae, with CAV1 as its principle component, are the main structure of lipid rafts that are distinct cholesterol- and sphingomyelin-rich, flask-shaped invaginations (60-80 nm) of the plasma membrane. It is dynamically participate in a number of cellular processes including signal transduction, lipid regulation and membrane trafficking (Parton et al., 2013).

[00258] Phosphorylation of CAV1 at Tyr14 has also been linked to membrane internalization, endocytosis, focal adhesion stability and dynamics, directional cell migration and extra cellular matrix remodeling (Parton er a/. , 2013 and del Pozo et al., 2005). However, the functional switch of CAV1 between its phosphorylated and un-phosphorylated form is not yet clear. [00259] It was previously found that FAS receptor contributed to cytokine secretion as the FAS mutant /pr bone marrows mesenchymal stem cells

(BMMSCs) showed a significantly altered cytokine releasing profile when compared with the WT control (Akiyama et al., 2012).

[00260] In this disclosure, it was shown that adding FAS activating antibody did not influence the IL-1 RA releasing of GMSCs, which suggested that non-apoptotic FAS pathway played an anchoring role in cytokine releasing. When under the inflammatory environment, FAP-1 could be induced and function together with FAS receptor to maintain the CAV-1 in un-phosphorylated form,, which thereby inhibit the FAS mediated death pathway being activated through internalization, meanwhile keeping the SNARE complex to be properly functioning in transporting the IL-1 RA containing vesicle. These findings to some extent explained the mechanism of how MSCs can escape from the immediate elimination by the innate immune system when infused into circulation for cell therapy.

[00261] The discovery that MSCs can modulate the inflammation as well as the host immune system has revolutionized the stem cell therapy. Although most of current investigations focus on the immunomodulatory capability of MSC populations expanded in vitro, the physiological roles of tissue-resident MSCs in immunomodulation have yet be elucidated (Wang er a/., 2014). Understanding the function of the tissue-resident MSCs will undoubtedly bring new insight into these unique cells in various pathophysiological conditions. The intercellular

communication is generally achieved by direct cell-to-cell contact, secreted paracrine molecules or by the exchange of the extracellular vesicles.

[00262] In this disclosure, it was shown that the in situ GMSCs were stimulated by the wound inflammation to secrete more IL-1 RA containing vesicles to balance the inflammatory environment. IL-1 RA may not be the only peptide, which is involved in the complicated wound healing process.

[00263] A wealth of studies showed that vesicles may also contain genetic information such as DNA, mRNA and miRNAs (Valadi er a/., 2007). Therefore the microvesicle release system on GMSCs, disclosed here, may also apply to various other containing contents. [00264] Investigations in the past few years have provided solid evidence for the function of MSCs in the treatment of immunological disorders. However, there are still important concerns about the therapeutic use of these unique cells such as the origins of the tissues, the use of autologous or allogeneic MSCs, etc. need to be clarified. The understanding of the detailed physiological role of MSCs in the in vivo scenario will definitely do help to guide the appropriate application of MSCs and optimize to reach better modulation of inflammatory responses at different stages of disease progression.

Example 7. Methods

[00265] The methods disclosed below were used in above examples.

[00266] Animals. Female C57BL/6J (stock 000664), C3H/HeJ (stock 000659), C3.MRL-Fas ^/p 7J (stock 000480) and B6.129S7-/ ng ^fmi7s /J (stock 002287) mice were purchased from Jackson Lab. All animal experiments were performed under the institutionally approved protocols for the use of animal research (University of Southern California protocol number 1 1 141 , 1 1953 and 1 1327). Mice 2-3 months of age were used in the experiments.

[00267] Antibodies and Reagents Anti-runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and -Osteocalcin (OCN) antibodies were purchased from Millipore (Billerica, MA, USA). Anti-alkaline phosphatase (ALP), -Nestin, -β-TUBULIN III, - Collagen II, -Sox9 and -Neurofilament Medium (NF-09) antibodies were purchased from Abeam (Cambridge, MA, USA). Anti-Sca-1 -PE, -CD34-PE, - CD44-PE, -CD45-PE, -CD1 1 b-PE, -CD73-PE, -CD1 17-PE, -CD4-PerCP, -CD25- APC, -lgG1 -PE, -lgG _2a -PE, -lgG _2b -PE, -CD3e and -CD28 antibodies were purchased from BD Bioscience (San Jose, CA, USA). Anti-Foxp3-PE, -IL17-PE, - CD105-PE and -CD90-PE antibodies were purchased from eBioscience (San Diego, CA, USA). Purified anti-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARy), -lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and -FAS Ligand (FASL) antibodies, as well as secondary antibodies, and, were purchased from Santa Cruz Biosciences (Santa Cruz, CA, USA). Anti-β actin antibody was purchased from Sigma (St. Louis, MO, USA). EdU imaging kit was purchased from Invitrogen (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA). [00268] Cell Culture. Gingiva tissues from mouse mandibular molar region were gently separated, minced, and digested with solution containing about 2mg/ml_ collagenase type I (Worthington Biochemical, Freehold, NJ, USA) and about 4mg/ml_ dispase II (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN, USA) in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) for about 1 hour at about 37°C. Single-cell suspensions were obtained by passing the cells through a 70-pm strainer (BD Biosciences, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA). All nucleated cells (ANC) were seeded at 1 ^χ 10 ⁶ into 100-mm culture dishes (Corning, NY, USA) with a-MEM (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) supplemented with about 20% FBS, about 2mM L-glutamine

(Invitrogen), 55μΜ 2-mercaptoethanol (Invitrogen), about 100 U ml_ ^"1 penicillin, and about 100 g ml_ ^"1 streptomycin (Invitrogen), followed by an initial incubation for about 48 hours under about 37°C at about 5% CO2. The cultures were washed with PBS twice to eliminate the non-adherent cells. Attached cells were cultured for another 12 days under same condition in the complete medium mentioned above.

[00269] Histology. To assess wound healing progress, skin and maxilla wound samples were fixed in about 4% paraformaldehyde (Sigma-Aldrich) and then decalcified (maxilla samples) with about 5 % EDTA (pH 7.4), followed by paraffin embedding. Paraffin sections (about 6 pm) were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and analyzed by NIH ImageJ software. To perform

Immunohistochemistry staining, the paraffin embedded sections were blocked with serum matched to secondary antibodies, incubated with the IL-1 RA or IL4 specific antibodies (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc, 1 :400) at about 4°C for overnight, and then stained using VECTASTAIN UNIVERSAL elite ABC kit and ImmPACT VIP Peroxidase Substrate kit (VECTOR) according to the

manufacturer's instruction.

[00270] ELISA. Cell culture medium was collected, and IL-1 RA protein levels were analyzed by using mouse ELISA Quantikine® Immunoassay kit (R&D Systems MRA00), according to the manufacturer's instructions.

[00271] Real-Time PCR. Total RNAs were isolated from different GMSCs by means of the TRIzol® Reagent (Life Technologies, Invitrogen). RNA samples (about 1 g) were reverse-transcribed in a Reverse Transcription system

(QIAGEN). Primers used were: (sll-1ra) forward, 5'- AAATCTGCTGGGGACCCTAC-3' (SEQ ID NO: 1 ), and reverse, 5'- TCCCAGATTCTGAAGGCTTG-3' (SEQ ID N0:2); (icll-1ra) forward, 5'- AGACACTGCCTGGGTGCTCCT-3' (SEQ ID NO:3) and reverse, 5'- GTTTGATATTTGGTCCTTGTAAG-3' (SEQ ID NO:4) and (GAPDH as an internal control) forward, 5'-GAAGGTGAAGTTCGGAGTC-3' (SEQ ID NO:5), and reverse, 5'- GAAGATGGTGATGGGATTTC-3' (SEQ ID NO:6). PCR conditions were: about 95°C for about 5 min, (about 95°C for about 10 sec, about 50°C for about 45 sec) x 40 times, and about 90°C for about 10 sec.

[00272] Western Immunoblotting. Cells were lysed in M-PER mammalian protein extraction reagent (Thermo) with protease and phosphatase inhibitors (Roche), and proteins were quantified using protein concentration assay (Bio-Rad Laboratories). About 20 g of proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE and transferred to about 0.2 pm nitrocellulose membranes (Millipore). The membranes were blocked with about 5% non-fat dry milk and about 0.1 % Tween-20 for about 1 hour, followed by incubation overnight with the primary antibodies diluted in blocking solution according to manufacturer's instructions. Antibodies to mouse FAS were purchased from Abeam, Cell Signaling, Millipore, and Sigma-Aldrich. The membranes were then incubated under room temperature for about 1 h in species related HRP-conjugated secondary antibody (Santa Cruz) diluted at about 1 : 10,000 in blocking solution. Immunoreactive proteins were detected using SuperSignal® West Pico Chemiluminescent Substrate (Thermo) and BioMax film (Kodak).

[00273] RNAi and Chemical Reagent Treatments. GMSCs (about 0.3x10 ⁶ ) were seeded to a 60mm culture plate and treated with Cav1 siRNA (Santa Cruz), Fas siRNA (Santa Cruz), Snap25n siRNA (Santa Cruz) according to the

manufacturers' instructions. After transfection, cells were either used for protein extraction for Western immunoblotting or for live imaging. For chemical reagent treatments, serum-starved GMSCs were treated with about 200 ng/mL IFN-γ (R&D Systems), about 50 ng/mL TNF-a (Peprotech), or about 1 pg/mL TGFp neutralized antibody (R&D systems). For Western immunoblotting, MSCs were cultured under growth medium with treatments for about 24 hours, and protein was extracted by using M-PER mammalian protein extraction reagent. [00274] Immunofluorescent Microscopy. GMSCs were cultured on 2-well chamber slides (Nunc) (about 1x10 ³ /well) and then fixed with 4%

paraformaldehyde. The Chamber slides or the previous prepared histological sections were incubated with primary anti CD73 antibody (about 1 :400, BD) and anti IL4Ra (about 1 :400, BD) at about 4°C for overnight. And then treated with Alexafluoro 568 or Alexafluoro 488 conjugated secondary antibody (about 1 :200, Invitrogen) for about 1 hour at room temperature. Finally, slides were mounted with Vectashield mounting medium (Vector Laboratories).

[00275] Luciferase Reporter Assay. Τςίβ reaction luciferase promoter reporter constructs were purchased from Addgene (plasmid 1 1767, Wrana et al., 1992). GMSCs cultured in 6-well plates were co-transfected with 2 g of luciferase reporter and 100 ng of Renilla luciferase expression vector to control for transfection efficiency. Forty-eight hours after transfection, cells were lysed in 1x passive lysis buffer, and luciferase activity was measured using the Dual-Glo Luciferase System (Promega) and a luminometer (Turner Biosystems).

[00276] ll-1ra-GFP Plasmid Construction. ll-1ra-GFP expression plasmid constructs were generated by PCR using Pfu polymerase and mouse 11-1 ra cDNA vector (GE LifeScience MMM1013-202766323) as a template. Primers containing upstream Mlul and downstream Nhel restriction sites were used to generate 11-1 ra cDNA fragment (forward, 5'-ACGCGTATGGCTTCAGAGGCAGCCTG-3' (SEQ ID NO:7) and reverse, 5'- GCTAGCTTGGTCTTCTGGAAGTAGA-3'(SEQ ID NO:8)). Restriction digested PCR products were subcloned into pBI-GFP vector (Addgene plasmid 16623, Cahill et al., 1998). All clones were confirmed by sequencing on both strands. GMSCs cultured on 2-well chamber slides (Nunc) (about 1x10 ³ /well) were transfected with about 2 g of ll-1ra-GFP expression plasmid by

Lipofectamine ^® 3000 (Invitrogen). About 48 hours after transfection, cells were kept in UNO CO2 Microscope Stage Incubator (okolab) for confocal microscope live imaging (Leica).

[00277] Statistics. All experimental group sizes were chosen to ensure adequate statistical power despite the highly variable nature of the studies performed. No animal excluded, and animals were randomly assigned groups for the studies. All experiments were not performed in a blinded fashion. Data were assessed for normal distribution and similar variance between groups. Comparisons between two groups were analyzed by independent unpaired two- tailed Student's f-test, and the comparisons between more than two groups were analyzed by one-way ANOVA with the Bonferroni adjustment. The p values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

[00278] Any combination of products such as compositions comprising stem cells and/or IL-1 RA, methods of their preparation, and methods of their use that are described herein may also be made and followed.

[00279] The components, steps, features, objects, benefits, and advantages that have been discussed are merely illustrative. None of them, nor the

discussions relating to them, are intended to limit the scope of protection in any way. Numerous other embodiments are also contemplated. These include embodiments that have fewer, additional, and/or different components, steps, features, objects, benefits, and/or advantages. These also include embodiments in which the components and/or steps are arranged and/or ordered differently.

[00280] Unless otherwise stated, all measurements, values, ratings, positions, magnitudes, sizes, and other specifications that are set forth in this disclosure are approximate, not exact. They are intended to have a reasonable range that is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with what is customary in the art to which they pertain.

[00281] All articles, patents, patent applications, and other publications that have been cited in this disclosure are incorporated herein by reference.

[00282] In this disclosure, the indefinite article "a" and phrases "one or more" and "at least one" are synonymous and mean "at least one".

[00283] Relational terms such as "first" and "second" and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another, without necessarily requiring or implying any actual relationship or order between them. The terms "comprises," "comprising," and any other variation thereof when used in

connection with a list of elements in the specification or claims are intended to indicate that the list is not exclusive and that other elements may be included. Similarly, an element preceded by an "a" or an "an" does not, without further constraints, preclude the existence of additional elements of the identical type. [00284] The abstract is provided to help the reader quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, various features in the foregoing detailed description are grouped together in various embodiments to streamline the disclosure. This method of disclosure should not be interpreted as requiring claimed embodiments to require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as separately claimed subject matter.