Recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein as a cell proliferative agent

Patent Number: 7101837

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a 65-kDa oncofetal glycoprotein found in fetal and maternal fluids during pregnancy and is produced by various types of cancers. This patent is useful for parties seeking methods of inducing proliferation of bone marrow cells. Particularly, AFP may be used to stimulate hematopoiesis in patients, as well as potentially for regenerative applications such as administration post-stroke or post AMI in order to enhance activity of endogenous bone marrow progenitors. The patent itself is comprised of one independent claim that covers the stimulation of "bone marrow cells". This is a relatively broad claim, however is restricted to AFP produced in prokaryotic cells that is unglycosylated. Prokaryotic production of AFP is described in US patent number 5,384,250. Feasibility of AFP for therapy has been demonstrated in animal models of multiple sclerosis, where immune modulation was reported, as well as remission of autoimmunity (Irony-Tur-Sinai M et al. Exp Neurol. 2006 Mar;198(1):136-44) . The author's group published a paper describing expression of human and murine AFP in E. Coli ( Boismenu R et al. Protein Expr Purif. 1997 Jun;10(1):10-26. )

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