Multi-lineage directed induction of bone marrow stromal cell differentiation

Patent Number: 7,364,900

This patent covers a 2 step method of generating insulin producing cells.

According to the first issued claim, the initial step involves obtaining what essentially appears to be a mesenchymal stem cell (adherent cell positive for CD44, CD90 and CD71, negative for monocyte and hematopoietic markers, CD11b and CD45, respectively) and culturing them with an antioxidant in order to generate an endodermal/neuronal precursor cell, said cell is then differentiated in the second step to an insulin producing cell by culture in basic fibroblast growth factor. The second claim covers essentially the same thing except instead of "a method of inducing differentiation" a "method of producing an isolated insulin producing pancreatic islet" is covered.

This patent is very interesting. Readers of StemCellPatents.com will remember a similar issued patent 7169608 in which "IPC" where generated using a process involving 2 steps, of which one involved culture in high concentration of glucose (see video describing the addition of glucose for generation of in vivo acting islet-like cells).

The main question is whether the amounts of insulin produced by these approaches is significant. As discussed by Novocell, the technology exists to administer allogeneic islets without immune suppression, the only issue is generating a large enough supply.

View this patent on the USPTO website.