Medical College of Georgia Research Institute, Inc.

Bresagen, Inc.

Georgia Health Sciences University

Erhard Bieberich

Brian G Condie

The present invention provides a cell culture enriched for sphingolipid enhances neural stem cells (SENSe), particularly oligodendrocyte precursor cells (ODPCs), that do not form teratomas after transplanted in vivo. Methods for producing and use of the invention ODPCs or the cell culture enriched with these ODPCs for stem cell therapy are also provided. The invention method comprises culturing a stem cell culture with a cell culture medium comprising a ceramide compound and a S1P receptor agonist in sequence, overlapping intervals or concurrent manners. The present invention further provides a cellular or gene therapy using a composition comprising a ceramide compound in conjunction with a S1Pagonist to proliferate or differentiate endogeneous neural stem cells to ODPCs and further to oligodendrocytes.

Oligodendrocyte precursor cell composition and methods of use

The present invention provides compositions and methods for human neural cell production. More particularly, the present invention provides cellular differentiation methods employing amphiphilic lipid compounds, preferably ceramide analogs of the &#x3b2;-hydroxyalkylamine type and optionally employing an essentially serum free MEDII conditioned medium for the generation of human neural cells from pluripotent human cells. The methods alternatively comprise modulating apoptosis by modifying the levels of PAR-4, with or without the presence of amphiphilic lipid compounds and optionally employing MEDII conditioned medium. The methods alternatively encompass modulating apoptosis by modulating the intracellular concentration of endogenous lipid second messengers, such as ceramide.

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Augusta, GA, United States of America

Erhard Bieberich