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Stem Cell Related Patent Number US6284539
| Title: | Method for generating dopaminergic cells derived from neural precursors | | Inventors: | Bowen, David C.; Washington, DC, USA | | Summary: | This invention introduces a novel process for the production of cells that express tyrosine hydroxylase, via the transformation of central nervous system stem cells with a transcriptional regulator.. Described herein are methods by which the differentiation of multipotential precursor cells from the central nervous system may be directed, such that the gene coding for the nuclear receptor, Nurr1, is introduced into the central nervous system (CNS) stem cells, thereby causing the cells to adopt a dopaminergic cell fate. Therapeutic applications include the treatment of injured or degenerate dopaminergic cells, such as in Parkinson's Disease or other neurological disorders. | | Abstract: | The present invention describes a novel method to direct a particular set of fate choice decisions by multipotential precursor cells from the central nervous system. Specifically we show that introducing the gene coding for the nuclear receptor, Nurr1, into central nervous system (CNS) stem cells causes cells to adopt a dopaminergic cell fate. One use of this technology would be to prepare in vitro neural populations enriched in dopaminergic cells for transplantation in Parkinson's Disease or other neurological disorders. Furthermore, the finding that Nurr1 expression induces a dopaminergic phenotype suggests that introducing this gene into the brains of patients in which dopaminergic cells are degenerating or have been injured may promote the functional recovery of these neurons and thus the clinical recovery of the patient. Finally, the technology described in this application could be incorporated into a program of drug screening or gene discovery. | | US Patent Website: | Click Here for Full Text of Patent | | Title Number: | US6284539 | | Application Number: | US1998000169309 | | Date Filed: | 09/10/1998 | | Date Published: | 04/09/2001 | | Assignee: | NeuralStem Biopharmaceuticals, Ltd., College Park, MD, USA |
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