Transplantation of neural cells for the treatment of chronic pain or spasticity

Abstract

Methods for using neural cells to treat chronic pain and/or spasticity are described. The neural cells can be derived from any mammal, and are preferably human or porcine in origin. The neural cells preferably are serotonergic cells or are gamma-aminobutryic acid (GABA)-producing cells. Neural cells can be obtained from adult, juvenile, embryonic or fetal donors. Neural cells can be modified to be suitable for transplantation into a subject. For example, the neural cells can be modified such that an antigen (e.g., an MHC class I antigen) on the cell surface which is capable of stimulating an immune response against the cell in a subject is altered (e.g., by contact with an anti-MHC class I antibody, or a fragment or derivative thereof) to inhibit rejection of the cell when introduced into the subject or can be genetically modified to produce a factor. In one embodiment, the neural cells are obtained from a pig which is essentially free from organisms or substances which are capable of transmitting infection or disease to the recipient subject. The neural cells of the present invention can be used to treat chronic pain and/or spasticity by delivering the cells into the spinal cord of a subject.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.