Neural progenitor cell populations
AssigneeAsterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.
InventorMelissa K. Carpenter
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Abstract
This invention provides populations of neural progenitor cells, differentiated neurons, glial cells, and astrocytes. The populations are obtained by culturing stem cell populations (such as embryonic stem cells) in a cocktail of growth conditions that initiates differentiation, and establishes the neural progenitor population. The progenitors can be further differentiated in culture into a variety of different neural phenotypes, including dopaminergic neurons. The differentiated cell populations or the neural progenitors can be generated in large quantities for use in drug screening and the treatment of neurological disorders.
Claims13
A method of producing a culture comprising dopaminergic neurons, comprising:
- a) initiating differentiation of human embryonic stem (hES) cells;
- b) culturing the initiated cells from a) in a medium comprising basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), optionally further comprising one or more factors selected from neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), sonic hedgehog (SHH) and fibroblast growth factor 8(FGF8) for a first culture period;
- and
- c) culturing the cells from b) in a medium comprising neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), or alternatively comprising cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and ascorbic acid for a second culture period sufficient to produce a culture comprising dopaminergic neurons.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.