Method of concentrating and separating dopaminergic neurons

Patent Number: 7,270,998

Selection of cells with specific phenotypes is a critical part of the development of stem cell therapeutics. Several patents are issued on methods of selecting differentiated cells with a specific phenotype from a heterogenous population. In the current patent 5 independent claims are issued covering the isolation of dopamine producing cells by the selection of cells which have an active tyrosine hydroxylase promoter. The independent claims essentially cover:

1. Method of enriching dopaminergic cells (from non-human transgenic animal) by introducing a construct that carries a selection marker that is turn on when the tyrosine hydroxylase promoter is active.

2. Method of identifying dopaminergic neurons that are alive by the above technique (in a non-human transgenic animal).

3. Method of screening for drugs that induce dopaminergic neurons.

4. Method of enriching dopaminergic cells (in mouse) by introducing a construct that carries a selection marker that is turn on when the tyrosine hydroxylase promoter is active.

5. Method of identifying dopaminergic neurons that are alive by the above technique (in mouse).

View this patent on the USPTO website.