Methods using lineage restricted glial precursors from the central nervous system

Patent Number: 7,214,372

Neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis cause pathology, in part, through demyelination. Since the myelin sheath acts as an insulator of nerves, when the nerves are demyelinated, they cease proper function.

The current patent covers the use of glial restricted precursors, as well as oligodendrocyte differentiated glial restricted precursors, for remyelination of nerves. These cells are extracted from fetal nervous system tissue. The patent issued claims appear to not be restricted by specific surface markers so potentially may be very broad.

Drawbacks of this approach still include that either allogeneic cells need to be used which poses the issue of immune suppression or immune modulation.

View this patent on the USPTO website.