Administration of growth factors for neurogenesis and gliagenesis
First Claim
1. Therapeutic delivery system comprising:
- a housing;
a electrical signal generator disposed in the housing;
genetically engineered stem cells comprising a target gene operably coupled to an electrically responsive promoter, the cells being operably coupled with the electrical signal generator;
a pump disposed in the housing;
a reservoir operably coupled to the pump; and
one or more stem cell enhancing agents disposed in the reservoir, the one or more stem cell enhancing agents configured to promote the proliferation, migration, differentiation, or integration of a stem cell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods for treating diseases associated with loss of neuronal function by cell replacement therapy are described. The methods are designed to promote proliferation, differentiation, migration, or integration of exogenous stem cells transplanted into the central nervous system (CNS). A therapy, such as an electrical signal or a stem cell enhancing agent, or a combination of therapies, is applied to a CNS region having damaged neuronal tissues, into which region exogenous stem cells are transplanted. A therapy may also be applied to a second region of the CNS to which neurons from the damaged CNS region are expected to project. The exogenous stem cells may be transfected with an electrically responsive genetic construct comprising an electrically responsive promoter and a target gene. Expression of the target gene, which may encode a gene product that promotes proliferation, differentiation, migration, or integration of the exogenous stem cell, may be closely controlled by application of an electrical signal.
69 Citations
60 Claims
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1. Therapeutic delivery system comprising:
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a housing;
a electrical signal generator disposed in the housing;
genetically engineered stem cells comprising a target gene operably coupled to an electrically responsive promoter, the cells being operably coupled with the electrical signal generator;
a pump disposed in the housing;
a reservoir operably coupled to the pump; and
one or more stem cell enhancing agents disposed in the reservoir, the one or more stem cell enhancing agents configured to promote the proliferation, migration, differentiation, or integration of a stem cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for treating a disease associated with a loss of neuronal function in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising:
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transplanting an exogenous stem cell to a first CNS region, the first CNS region comprising damaged neuronal tissue;
implanting a lead in the subject such that an electrode of the lead is positioned in the first CNS region;
implanting a catheter in the subject such that a delivery region of the catheter is positioned in the first CNS region;
applying an electrical signal to first CNS region to promote proliferation, differentiation, migration, or integration of the exogenous stem cell; and
delivering a first stem cell enhancing agent to the first CNS region to promote proliferation, differentiation, migration, or integration of the exogenous stem cell. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for treating a disease associated with a loss of neuronal function in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising:
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transplanting an exogenous stem cell to a first CNS region, the first CNS region comprising damaged neuronal tissue;
implanting a first therapy delivery element comprising a therapy delivery region in the subject and positioning the therapy delivery region of the first therapy delivery element in the first CNS region;
implanting a second therapy delivery element comprising a therapy delivery region in the subject and positioning the therapy delivery region of the second therapy delivery element in a second CNS region to which neurons from the first CNS region are predicted to project;
applying a first therapy to the first CNS region via the therapy delivery region of the first therapy delivery element to promote proliferation, differentiation, migration, or integration of the exogenous stem cell; and
applying a second therapy to the second CNS region via the therapy delivery region of the second therapy delivery element to promote projections of the neurons from the first CNS region to the second CNS region. wherein the first and second therapy are the same or different. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification