Islet Cells from Human Embryonic Stem Cells

• US 20080145889A1
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Asterias Biotherapeutics Incorporated (Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Geron Corporation
• Inventors: Fisk, Gregory J., Inokuma, Margaret S.
• Application Number:
  US11/960,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20080145889A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/32
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 2300/00 Combinations or mixtures of active ingredients covered by classes A01N27/00 - A01N65/48 with other active or formulation relevant ingredients, e.g. specific carrier materials or surfactants, covered by classes A01N25/00 - A01N65/48
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 65/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing material from algae, lichens, bryophyta, multi-cellular fungi or plants, or extracts thereof containing compounds of determined constitution A01N27/00 - A01N59/00
• 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: A61K 35/39 Pancreas; Islets of Langerhans Langerhans cells of epidermis A61K35/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/18 for pancreatic disorders, e.g. pancreatic enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/10 for hyperglycaemia, e.g. antidiabetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 5/50 for increasing or potentiating the activity of insulin
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2500/25 Insulin-transferrin; Insulin-transferrin-selenium
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2500/30 Organic components metal chelators C12N2500/10; calcitonin C12N2500/14; transferrin C12N2500/24
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2500/36 Lipids
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2500/38 Vitamins
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2500/44 Thiols, e.g. mercaptoethanol
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2500/46 Amines, e.g. putrescine
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2500/62 DMSO
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/105 Insulin-like growth factors [IGF]
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/11 Epidermal growth factor [EGF]
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/115 Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF, FGF-2)
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/12 Hepatocyte growth factor [HGF]
• 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 2501/148 : Transforming growth factor alpha [TGF-a]
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/155 : Bone morphogenic proteins [BMP]; Osteogenins; Osteogenic factor; Bone inducing factor
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/16 : Activin; Inhibin; Mullerian inhibiting substance
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/19 : Growth and differentiation factors [GDF]
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/33 : Insulin together with transferrin C12N2500/25; Insulin-like growth factors C12N2501/105
• 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 2501/392 : Sexual steroids
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/395 : Thyroid hormones
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/41 : Hedgehog proteins; Cyclopamine (inhibitor)
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2502/02 : embryonic cells
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2502/14 : hepatocytes
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2503/00 : Use of cells in diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2503/02 : Drug screening
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2506/02 : from embryonic cells
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2510/00 : Genetically modified cells
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0603 : Embryonic cells production of embryos, nuclear transfer A01K67/027; Embryoid bodies
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0607 : Non-embryonic pluripotent stem cells, e.g. MASC induced pluripotent stem cells C12N5/0696
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0618 : Cells of the nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/067 : Hepatocytes
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0676 : Pancreatic cells
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0678 : Stem cells; Progenitor cells; Precursor cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/00 : Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5008 : for testing or evaluating the effect of chemical or biological compounds, e.g. drugs, cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5014 : for testing toxicity
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5067 : Liver cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/507 : Pancreatic cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5073 : Stem cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/56966 : Animal cells

Abstract

This disclosure provides a system for producing pancreatic islet cells from embryonic stem cells. Differentiation is initiated towards endoderm cells, and focused using reagents that promote emergence of islet precursors and mature insulin-secreting cells. High quality populations of islet cells can be produced in commercial quantities for use in research, drug screening, or regenerative medicine.

Claims

1. A method of screening a compound for its effect on a primate pancreatic islet cell or a pancreatic islet cell precursor comprising

a) isolating a population of primate pancreatic islet cells or pancreatic islet cell precursors from a cell culture comprising primate pluripotent stem cells (pPS);

b) contacting the isolated population of primate pancreatic islet cells or pancreatic islet cell precursors with the compound; and

c) determining any affect from the compound to the isolated population of primate pancreatic islet cells or pancreatic islet cell precursors from b).

2. The method of claim one wherein the primate pancreatic islet cells or pancreatic islet cell precursors are human cells.

3. The method of claim one comprising determining if the compound is toxic to the primate pancreatic islet cells or pancreatic islet cell precursors.

4. The method of claim one comprising determining if the compound affects insulin expression or insulin secretion.

5. The method of claim one comprising determining if the compound affects growth of primate pancreatic islet cells or pancreatic islet cell precursors.

6. A cell culture comprising a) a first population of cells comprising primate pluripotent stem cells (pPS);

b) a second population of cells comprising cells that express Sox17, HNF3 and HNF4; and

c) Activin A at a concentration suitable to induce expression of Sox17, HNF3 and HNF4 at level that is higher in the second population of cells compared to the first population of cells.

7. The cell culture of claim 6, wherein the primate pluripotent stem cells (pPS) are human cells.

8. The cell culture of claim 6, further comprising butyrate.

9. The cell culture of claim 6, wherein the second population of cells comprises gut endodermal cells.