In vitro pre-conditioned bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and uses thereof

A method of treating an enteric nervous system disorder comprising:

• administering to a subject in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising an isolated in vitro pre-conditioned population of adult bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), wherein at least 80% of the in vitro pre-conditioned BMSC population express PGP9.5 and NSE,
• wherein at least 70% of the in vitro pre-conditioned BMSC population express Tuj1 and HuC/D,
• wherein at least 75% of the in vitro pre-conditioned BMSC population express neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and wherein the BMSCs promote de novo regeneration of neurons not originated from the BMSCs when the BMSCs are administered to a subject
• and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

A method of preparing mesenchymal stem cells exhibiting a neuronal phenotype which method comprises:

• isolating mesenchymal stem cells from an adult bone marrow;
• culturing the mesenchymal stem cells in a medium comprising glial cell derived neurotrophic factor and a fetal gut culture medium to thereby obtain an isolated in vitro pre-conditioned population of adult bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs),
• wherein at least 80% of the in vitro pre-conditioned BMSC population express PGP9.5 and NSE,
• wherein at least 70% of the in vitro pre-conditioned BMSC population express Tuj1 and HuC/D,
• wherein at least 75% of the in vitro pre-conditioned BMSC population express neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and
• wherein the BMSCs promote de novo regeneration of neurons not originated from the BMSCs when the BMSCs are administered to a subject.