Method for differentiating mesenchymal stem cells into neural cells

• US 7,229,827 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2002
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lifecord Inc., Pharmicell Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: FCB-Pharmicell Co., Ltd., LifeCord International Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoon, Hee-Hoon, Kim, Hyun-Soo
• Primary Examiner(s): Romeo; David S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gamett; Daniel C
• Application Number:
  US10/475,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20040151701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,880 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 435/377
• 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: A61P 25/00 Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/14 for treating abnormal movements, e.g. chorea, dyskinesia
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/16 Anti-Parkinson drugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/28 for treating neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system, e.g. nootropic agents, cognition enhancers, drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia
• 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 2506/1353 from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC)
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0619 Neurons
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0622 Glial cells, e.g. astrocytes, oligodendrocytes; Schwann cells

Abstract

A method for differentiating mesenchymal stem cells of bone marrow into neural cells comprises culturing the mesenchymal stem cells in a medium containing epidermal growth factor(EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) and hepatocyte growth factor(HGF), and the neural cells produced thereby can be employed for the treatment of a neural disease.

Claims

1. A method for differentiating mesenchymal stem cells into neural cells, which comprises culturing the mesenchymal stem cells in a medium containing epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mesenchymal stem cells are cultured in a medium containing 1 to 1000 ng/ml of EGF, 1 to 1000 ng/ml of bFGF and 1 to 1000 ng/ml of HGF for more than one week.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the culturing is carried out for more than 4 weeks.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mesenchymal stem cells are cultured in a medium containing EGF, bFGF and HGF for more than one week and the resulting differentiated neural cells are allowed to proliferate in a medium containing EGF and bFGF.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mesenchymal stem cells are isolated from human bone marrow.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein mononuclear cells isolated from bone marrow and containing mesenchymal stem cells are used as a source of mesenchymal stem cells.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the neural cells contain neurons and astrocytes.