Central nerve system precursor cells inducing synaptogenic neurons in spinal cord

Abstract

The present invention provides central nervous system neural progenitor cells which can induce neurons with synapse forming ability, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and the like when transplanted into an injured or disabled spinal cord, a method for preparing said central nervous system neural progenitor cells, a method for screening promoters or inhibitors of synapse formation using said central nervous system neural progenitor cells, a therapeutic drug to improve neural injuries or neural functions using said central nervous system neural progenitor cells, and the like. The central nervous system neural progenitor cells comprising neural stem cells derived from the spinal cord and cultured in the presence of cytokine, is transplanted into the injury site at a certain period after the spinal injury. The transplantation can induce neurons with synapse forming ability, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes in the injury site, resulting in forming synapses between induced neurons and host neurons, and thus the injured spinal cord function is improved.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.