Multipotent neural stem cells from peripheral tissues and uses thereof
AssigneeMcGill University
InventorsFreda D. Miller, Andrew Gloster, Jean Toma
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to multipotent neural stem cells, purified from the peripheral nervous system of mammals, capable of differentiating into neural and non-neural cell types. These stem cells provide an accessible source for autologous transplantation into CNS, PNS, and other damaged tissues.
Claims8
A method of producing a population of at least ten cells, wherein at least 30% of the cells are multipotent stem cells substantially purified from skin or tongue tissue of a postnatal mammal or progeny of said multipotent stem cells, wherein said multipotent stem cells are self-renewing, form non-adherent clusters, express nestin, and can differentiate into neuronal and mesodermal cell types, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing skin or tongue tissue from said mammal;
- (b) culturing said skin or tongue tissue under conditions comprising bFGF, EGF or TGFα in which multipotent stem cells proliferate and in which at least 25% of the cells that are not multipotent stem cells die or attach to the culture substrate;
- and
- (c) continuing culture step (b) until at least 30% of the cells are multipotent stem cells which are self renewing, form non-adherent clusters, express nestin and can differentiate into neuronal and mesodermal cell types, or progeny of said multipotent stem cells.
A method of producing a population of at least ten cells, wherein at least 30% of the cells are multipotent stem cells substantially purified from skin or tongue tissue of a postnatal mammal or progeny of said multipotent stem cells, wherein said multipotent stem cells are self-renewing, form non-adherent clusters, express nestin, and can differentiate into neuronal and mesodermal cell types, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing skin or tongue tissue from said mammal;
- (b) culturing said skin or tongue tissue under conditions comprising bFGF, EGF or TGFα in which multipotent stem cells proliferate and in which at least 25% of the cells that are not multipotent stem cells die or attach to the culture substrate;
- (c) separating said multipotent stem cells from said cells that attach to said culture substrate;
- and
- (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until at least 30% of the cells are multipotent stem cells which are self renewing, form non-adherent clusters, express nestin, and can differentiate into neuronal and mesodermal cell types, or progeny of said multipotent stem cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.