Methods of isolating hepatic progenitors
Patent Number: 7109028
This patent is useful for parties seeking to purify hepatic progenitor cells, or hepatic stem cells. The patent has one independent claim that essentially teaches how to "negatively deplete" a single cell suspension of hepatocytes for all cells except hepatic stem cells. The patent also claims the marker OC3 as expressed on hepatic stem cells. A publication that appears to relate to the patent exists (Sigal SH et al. Hepatology. 1994 Apr;19(4):999-1006). It is to be noted that in the publication fetal liver was used, which may have different properties than adult liver. Important to note is that the patent effectively covers broad areas such as using antibodies that deplete "hemopoietic cells, mesenchymal cells, or mature liver cells, or combinations thereof". By deplete, the claims appear to be restricted to panning and flow cytometry. Given the relative tolerogenicity of hepatic tissue, one possible translational application of this patent would be allogeneic liver cells purified from cadavers for treatment of liver degeneration. Another possible application would be to use purified hepatocyte progenitors for generation of extracorporeal devices.
View this patent on the USPTO website.
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Gina said...
Would be neat if autologous stem cells may be used, however in this case it is obvious that one would need allo hepatocytes.
Since liver transplantation can be performed with less immune suppression than other organs due to the inherent weaker immunogenicity, would it be possible to do allo-hepatocytes without immune suppression?
Something to think about, if not encapsulation.
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Lustengarten said...
When they talk about OC3 positive stem cells do they mean the onecut transcription factor? this transcription factor is intracellular, so how can it be used for purification of stem cells?