Transdifferentiation of glial cells

Patent Number: 6897061

This patent teaches how to make astrocytes into neurons and/or oligodendrocytes. The ability to perform this in large scale would allow for cell replacement therapy for a variety of neural degenerative conditions. The independent claims are:


An in vitro method to produce a population that includes neurons and/or oligodendrocytes, the method comprising: (a) obtaining and/or isolating a mammalian neural stem cell; (b) culturing said neural stem cell to produce an in vitro cell culture that includes astrocytes; © dissociating and plating the in vitro cell culture; and (d) maintaining the in vitro cell culture in medium essentially free of serum comprising bFGF for at least one day, to produce a population of cells that include neurons and/or oligodendrocytes.

An in vitro method to screen a compound for transdifferentiation activity, the method comprising: (a) obtaining and/or isolating a mammalian neural stem cell; (b) culturing said neural stem cell to produce an in vitro cell culture that includes astrocytes; © dissociating and plating the in vitro cell culture; and (d) maintaining the in vitro cell culture in medium essentially free of serum comprising a compound for at least one day, and performing, as a control, steps comprising: (a) obtaining and/or isolating a mammalian neural stem cell; (b) culturing said neural stem cell to produce an in vitro cell culture that includes astrocytes; © dissociating and plating the in vitro cell culture; and (d) maintaining the in vitro cell culture in medium essentially free of serum comprising bFGF for at least one day, to produce a population of cells that include neurons and/or oligodendrocytes.

View this patent on the USPTO website.