Method for stimulating self-renewal of neural stem cells and enhancing neurogenesis

• US 20050277189A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Albany Medical College (Albany Medical Center)
• Original Assignee: Albany Medical College (Albany Medical Center)
• Inventors: Goderie, Susan K., Shen, Qin, Temple, Sally
• Granted Patent: US 7,901,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/325
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/10 Growth factors
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/115 Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF, FGF-2)
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2502/28 Vascular endothelial cells
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0619 Neurons
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0623 Stem cells

Abstract

The present invention provides a mechanism for obtaining an almost unlimited source of stem cells. A method for the expansion of a population of stem cells that retain their developmental capacity comprises co-culture of a stem cell population with a trophic support, for example, endothelial cells or conditioned medium derived from endothelial cell culture. The method also provides a method for enhancing neurogenesis when neural stem cells are co-cultured with the endothelial cell-derived trophic support to retain their neurogenic potential.

Claims

1. A method for expanding a population of stem cells comprising:

1) obtaining a population of stem cells having a specific developmental capacity; and

2) culturing said cells in the presence of a trophic support selected from the group consisting of;

a) vascular endothelial cells; and

b) conditioned media from a vascular endothelial cell culture in an amount sufficient to stimulate self-renewal of the stem cells, wherein an expanded population of stem cells that retains the developmental capacity is obtained.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the stem cells are cultured non-contiguously with vascular endothelial cells.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the stem cells are grown in the presence of conditioned media from a vascular endothelial cell culture.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the stem cells are embryonic stem cells.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the stem cells are neural stem cells.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the endothelial cells are primary cells.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the endothelial cells are pulmonary artery endothelial cells.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the cells are bovine.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the endothelial cells are a cell line.

10. A method for enhancing neurogenesis comprising:

1) obtaining a population of neural stem cells having a developmental capacity to differentiate into neurons; and

2) culturing said cells in the presence of a trophic support selected from the group consisting of;

a) vascular endothelial cells; and

b) conditioned media from a vascular endothelial cell culture in an amount sufficient to stimulate self-renewal of the neural stem cells.

11. The method of claim 10 comprising a further step:

3) removing said trophic support, wherein said expanded population of neural stem cells are allowed to differentiate into neurons.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the neural stem cells are cultured non-contiguously with vascular endothelial cells.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the neural stem cells are grown in the presence of conditioned media from a vascular endothelial cell culture.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein said neural stem cells differentiate into projection neurons.