Use of TGF beta superfamily antagonists to make dopaminergic neurons from embryonic stem cells

• US 20050158855A1
• Filed: 12/10/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asterias Biotherapeutics Incorporated (Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Melissa K. Carpenter, Thies R. Scott
• Inventors: Thies, R. Scott, Carpenter, Melissa K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,560,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/368
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/12 Materials from mammals; Compositions comprising non-specified tissues or cells; Compositions comprising non-embryonic stem cells; Genetically modified cells vaccines or medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies A61K39/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/1034 Isolating an individual clone by screening libraries
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/1072 Differential gene expression library synthesis, e.g. subtracted libraries, differential screening
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/1096 cDNA Synthesis; Subtracted cDNA library construction, e.g. RT, RT-PCR
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2500/14 Calcium; Ca chelators; Calcitonin
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2500/30 Organic components metal chelators C12N2500/10; calcitonin C12N2500/14; transferrin C12N2500/24
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2500/38 Vitamins
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2500/44 Thiols, e.g. mercaptoethanol
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2500/62 DMSO
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/105 Insulin-like growth factors [IGF]
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/13 Nerve growth factor [NGF]; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF]; Cilliary neurotrophic factor [CNTF]; Glial-derived neurotrophic factor [GDNF]; Neurotrophins [NT]; Neuregulins
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/155 Bone morphogenic proteins [BMP]; Osteogenins; Osteogenic factor; Bone inducing factor
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/385 of the family of the retinoic acid recptor, e.g. RAR, RXR; Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor [PPAR]
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/39 Steroid hormones
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/999 Small molecules not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2502/13 connective tissue cells; generic mesenchyme cells, e.g. so-called "embryonic fibroblasts"
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2502/99 genetically modified cells
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2503/02 Drug screening
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2510/00 Genetically modified cells
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2510/04 Immortalised cells
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2533/90 : Substrates of biological origin, e.g. extracellular matrix, decellularised tissue
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0606 : Pluripotent embryonic cells, e.g. embryonic stem cells [ES] embryonic germ cells C12N5/0611, induced pluripotent stem cells C12N5/0696

Abstract

This invention provides a system for efficiently producing differentiated cells from pluripotent cells, such as human embryonic stem cells. Rather than permitting the cells to form embryoid bodies according to established techniques, differentiation is effected directly in monolayer culture on a suitable solid surface. The cells are either plated directly onto a differentiation-promoting surface, or grown initially on the solid surface in the absence of feeder cells and then exchanged into a medium that assists in the differentiation process. The solid surface and the culture medium can be chosen to direct differentiation down a particular pathway, generating a cell population that is remarkably uniform. The methodology is well adapted to bulk production of committed precursor and terminally differentiated cells for use in drug screening or regenerative medicine.

Claims

1. A method for producing a neural cell population from human embryonic stem (hES) cells, comprising:

a) obtaining a population of hES cells;

b) optionally initiating differentiation of the hES cells into a heterogeneous population of precursor cells; and

then

c) culturing the cells in a medium containing one or more added TGF-β

Superfamily Antagonists so as to produce a population having one or more of the following features;

i) at least 50% of the cells express polysialylated NCAM

ii) at least 50% of the cells express β

-tubulin III;

or

iii) at least 10% of the cells express both microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) and tyrosine hydroxylase.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising culturing hES cells in a medium containing one or more added TGF-β

Superfamily Antagonists so as to produce a population in which at least 50% of the cells express either polysialylated NCAM or β

-tubulin III.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising initiating differentiation of the hES cells into a heterogeneous population of precursor cells, then culturing the initiated cells in a medium containing one or more added TGF-β

Superfamily Antagonists so as to produce a population in which at least 50% of the cells express either polysialylated NCAM or β

-tubulin III.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising culturing hES cells in a medium containing one or more added TGF-β

Superfamily Antagonists so as to produce a population in which at least 10% of the cells express both microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) and tyrosine hydroxylase.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising initiating differentiation of the hES cells into a heterogeneous population of precursor cells, then culturing the initiated cells in a medium containing one or more added TGF-β

Superfamily Antagonists so as to produce a population in which at least 10% of the cells express both MAP-2 and tyrosine hydroxylase.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the progeny are cultured in a medium containing noggin.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the progeny are cultured in a medium containing follistatin.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the medium further contains a neurotrophin.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the neurotrophin is neurotrophin 3 (NT-3) or brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the medium further contains a combination of factors selected from differentiation factors, neurotrophic factors, and survival factors.

11. The method of claim 4, comprising initiating differentiation of the hES cells by plating them onto a solid surface without forming embryoid bodies or cell aggregates.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the solid surface comprises fibronectin.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising combining the neural cell population with a compound, determining any phenotypic or metabolic changes in the cell that result from contact with the compound, and correlating the change with cellular toxicity or modulation caused by the compound.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising compounding the neural cell population as a pharmaceutical composition.