Methods of differentiating and protecting cells by modulating the P38/MEF2 pathway
First Claim
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1. A method of differentiating progenitor cells, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting said progenitor cells with a differentiating agent; and
(b) introducing into said progenitor cells a nucleic acid molecule encoding a MEF2 polypeptide or an active fragment thereof, thereby differentiating said progenitor cells to produce a cell population containing protected neuronal cells.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method of differentiating progenitor cells to produce a population containing protected neuronal cells. A method of the invention includes the steps of contacting the progenitor cells with a differentiating agent; and introducing into the progenitor cells a nucleic acid molecule encoding a MEF2 polypeptide or an active fragment thereof, thereby differentiating the progenitor cells to produce a population containing protected neuronal cells. In one embodiment, the MEF2 polypeptide is human MEF2C or an active fragment thereof.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A method of differentiating progenitor cells, comprising the steps of:
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(a) contacting said progenitor cells with a differentiating agent; and
(b) introducing into said progenitor cells a nucleic acid molecule encoding a MEF2 polypeptide or an active fragment thereof, thereby differentiating said progenitor cells to produce a cell population containing protected neuronal cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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- 22. An isolated stem cell, comprising an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a MEF2 polypeptide or an active fragment thereof.
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35. An isolated hematopoietic stem cell, comprising an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a MEF2 polypeptide or an active fragment thereof.
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38. A method of identifying a protective or differentiation gene, comprising:
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(a) isolating a first cell population;
(b) isolating a second cell population, wherein said second cell population has an altered level or activity of a MEF2 polypeptide as compared to said first cell population; and
(c) assaying for differential gene expression in said first cell population as compared to said second cell population, whereby a gene differentially expressed in said second cell population as compared to said first cell population is identified as a protective or differentiation gene.
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42. A method of identifying a protective gene in vitro, comprising the steps of:
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(a) inducing the p38/MEF2 pathway in a cell in vitro to produce a protected cell;
(b) stressing said cell; and
(c) assaying for differential gene expression in said protected cell as compared to gene expression in a control cell, whereby a gene differentially expressed in said protected cell as compared to said control cell is identified as a protective gene. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method of identifying a differentiation gene in vitro, comprising the steps of:
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(a) inducing the p38/MEF2 pathway in a progenitor cell in vitro to produce a differentiated cell; and
(b) assaying for differential gene expression in said differentiated cell as compared to gene expression in a control cell, whereby a gene differentially expressed in said differentiated cell as compared to said control cell is identified as a differentiation gene. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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Specification