Transdiffentiation of transfected epidermal basal cells into neural progenitor cells, neuronal cells and/or glial cells

Patent Number: 7041507

This invention teaches how to generate neurons from skin. Essentially, the inventors found that through the process of isolating epidermal stem cells (basal cells), transfected said basal cells with genes encoding neurogenic transcription factors, suppressing transcription factors that maintain a differentiated phenotype (by for example antisense), and then culturing the cells with exogenous neurotrophic agents in combination with a retinoid, one can make said basal cells take on the phenotype and function of neurons. This invention is very interesting not only from the possibility of generated ex vivo autologous neuronal cells, but because it practically demonstrates ability to change cellular phenotype from one cell into another. When one looks at this invention, one things about the effect that other known agents in the art may have on enhancing cellular plasticity. For example, there are a variety of histone deacetylase inhibitors (say valproic acid, used to treat convulsions) that may potentially synergize with the current invention. Additionally, DNA methyltranfserase inhibitors such as 5-aza-cytidine may also enhance ability of the cells to transdifferentiate. The only obstacle for practicing this invention clinically is that stable transfection with transcription factors will have certain regulatory hurdles. The invention has 4 independent claims. The first one covers a method of transdifferentiating a basal cell into a cell having at least some similarities to neurons. The second covers a kit for essentially doing the same thing. The third covers a transdifferentiated mammalian cell having at least some properties of astroglial cells. The forth covers a kit for converting epidermal basal cells into a cell having features of neurons or astroglial cells.

View this patent on the USPTO website.