Method of isolating human neuroepithelial precursor cells from human fetal tissue

Patent Number: 7,517,521

This patent covers methods of using a type of fetal stem cell in experimental systems or in humans.  It seems to be a clever claiming strategy. 

Essentially the patent claims a method for transplanting an isolated population of human neuroepithelial precursor cells into an animal comprising: (a) isolating human neuroepithelial precursor cells from human fetal tissue by a method which comprises (i) culturing human fetal cells in medium containing fibroblast growth factor and chick embryo extract; and (ii) immunodepleting from the cultured human fetal cells any cells expressing A2B5, NG2 and eNCAM so that an isolated population of human neuroepithelial precursor cells remains; and (b) transplanting the isolated human neuroepithelial precursor cells into the central nervous system of an animal, wherein said animal is immunosuppressed or is a human.

View this patent on the USPTO website.