Progenitor cells, methods and uses related thereto

• US 6,946,293 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2000
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ES Cell International Pte Ltd. (Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ES Cell International Pte Ltd. (Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rubin, Lee, Pang, Kevin, Lu, Kuanghui
• Primary Examiner(s): Ketter, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lambertson, David A.
• Application Number:
  US09/635,370
• Time in Patent Office: 1,868 Days
• Field of Search: 435/325, 435/378, 435/379, 435/381, 435/383, 435/384, 435/385
• US Class Current: 435/378
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/01 Modulators of cAMP or cGMP, e.g. non-hydrolysable analogs, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, cholera toxin
• 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 2501/39 Steroid hormones
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/70 Enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0678 Stem cells; Progenitor cells; Precursor cells

Abstract

The present invention relates to a substantially pure population of viable pancreatic progenitor cells, and methods for isolating such cells. The present invention further concerns certain therapeutic uses for such progenitor cells, and their progeny.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a substantially pure non-adherent population of progenitor cells comprising:

obtaining a cell suspension from an animal tissue selected from pancreatic tissue or pancreatic ductal tissue, wherein said cell suspension comprises at least one progenitor cell;

treating the cell suspension with a preparation comprising epidermal growth factor, a cAMP elevating agent, and a steroid or corticosteroid; and

allowing proliferation of said at least one progenitor cell such that a substantially pure non-adherent progenitor cell population is obtained,

thereby obtaining a substantially pure non-adherent progenitor cell population that is at least about 75% pure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said cell suspension is obtained by mechanical disruption of said animal tissue.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said cell suspension is obtained by enzymatic disruption of said animal tissue.

9. The method of claim 1 or 8, wherein said non-adherent progenitor cell population expresses Nestin.

10. The method of claim 1 or 8, wherein said non-adherent progenitor cell population expresses at least one of c-kit and Sca.

11. The method of claim 1 or 8, wherein said non-adherent progenitor cell population under proper conditions can give rise to cells that express a marker selected from Pdx-1, glucagon, and insulin.

12. The method of claim 1 or 8, wherein said substantially pure non-adherent population of progenitor cells contains less that 20% lineage committed cells.

4. A method for preparing a substantially pure non-adherent population of progenitor cells comprising:

obtaining a cell suspension from an animal tissue selected from pancreatic tissue or pancreatic ductal tissue, wherein said cell suspension comprises at least one progenitor cell;

treating the cell suspension with a preparation comprising epidermal growth factor, a cAMP elevating agent, and a steroid or corticosteroid; and

allowing proliferation of said at least one progenitor cell such that a substantially pure non-adherent progenitor cell population is obtained,

thereby obtaining a substantially pure non-adherent progenitor cell population that is at least about 80% pure.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said non-adherent population of progenitor cells is at least about 90% pure.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said animal tissue is obtained from a mammalian organ.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said substantially pure non-adherent progenitor cells are floating cells.

8. A method for preparing a substantially pure non-adherent population of progenitor cells comprising:

providing an animal tissue selected from pancreatic tissue or pancreatic ductal tissue;

disrupting said animal tissue so as to obtain a cell suspension comprising at least one progenitor cell;

treating the cell suspension with a preparation comprising a fibroblast growth factor and an epidermal growth factor; and

allowing proliferation of said at least one progenitor cell such that a substantially pure non-adherent progenitor cell population is obtained,

thereby obtaining a substantially pure non-adherent progenitor cell population at least about 75% pure.