Pharmaceuticals containing multipotential precursor cells from tissues containing sensory receptors

Patent Number: 6969608

This patent covers the use of a type of stem cell composition derived from tissues having sensory receptors such as olfactor epithelium. The patent contains 1 independent claims. The first covers a composition of neural stem cells and a carrier, the neural stem cells being isolated from tissue containing sensory receptors, expressing nestin, proliferate in absence of EGF, can differentiate into tyrosine hydroxylase-expressing neurons in presence of serum, and grow as non-adherent clusters in vitro. The second independent claim covers a similar composition with the exception that the cells do not need to be isolated from tissue having sensory receptors. A paper that may be of interest, related to generation of nervous tissue from epithelium was published by one of the inventors (McKenzie IA, et al. Skin-derived precursors generate myelinating Schwann cells for the injured and dysmyelinated nervous system. J Neurosci. 2006 Jun 14;26(24):6651-60).

View this patent on the USPTO website.