Other

Children's Medical Center Corporation

The University of British Columbia

Seung U Kim

Evan Y Snyder

John H Wolfe

An immortalized human cell line is provided which has the characteristics of human embryonic microglia. Such immortalized microglia cells express CD68, CD11c and MHC class I and II antigens as surface markers; have demonstrable phagocytic properties; and produce progeny continuously while maintained in culture. A method of transforming human microglial cells into an immortalized cell line is also provided. The genetically modified human microglia cells can express active substances from a selected group consisting of MIP-1&bgr;, MCP-1, IL-1&bgr;, IL-6, IL-12, and IL-15; and in the stimulated state can overexpress at lest cytokines, chemokines, and other cytotoxic and neurotoxic substances. Such immortalized microglia cells can be used for screening of compounds for diseases. These cells may be utilized for the treatment of at least Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, Huntington disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, stroke, spinal cord injuries, ataxia, autoimmune diseases and AIDS-dementia.

Immortalized human microglia cell line

Stable clones of neural stem cells (NSCs) have been isolated from the human fetal telencephalon. In vitro, these self-renewing clones (affirmed by retroviral insertion site) can spontaneously give rise to all 3 fundamental neural cell types (neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes). Following transplantation into germinal zones of the developing newborn mouse brain, they, like their rodent counterparts, can participate in aspects of normal development, including migration along well-established migratory pathways to disseminated CNS regions, differentiation into multiple developmentally- and regionally-appropriate cell types in response to microenvironmental cues, and non-disruptive, non-tumorigenic interspersion with host progenitors and their progeny. Readily genetically engineered prior to transplantation, human NSCs are capable of expressing foreign transgenes in vivo in these disseminated locations. Further supporting their potential for gene therapeutic applications, the secretory products from these NSCs can cross-correct a prototypical genetic metabolic defect in abnormal neurons and glia in vitro as effectively as do murine NSCs. Finally, human cells appear capable of replacing specific deficient neuronal populations in a mouse model of neurodegeneration and impaired development, much as murine NSCs could. Human NSCs may be propagated by a variety of means&mdash;both epigenetic (e.g., chronic mitogen exposure) and genetic (transduction of the propagating gene vmyc)&mdash;that are comparably safe (vmyc is constitutively downregulated by normal developmental mechanisms and environmental cues) and effective in yielding engraftable, migratory clones, suggesting that investigators may choose the propagation technique that best serves the demands of a particular research or clinical problem. All clones can be cryopreserved and transplanted into multiple hosts in multiple settings.

Engraftable human neural stem cells

Stable clones of neural stem cells (NSCs) have been isolated from the human fetal telencephalon. In vitro, these self-renewing clones (affirmed by retroviral insertion site) can spontaneously give rise to all 3 fundamental neural cell types (neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes). Following transplantation into germinal zones of the developing newborn mouse brain, they, like their rodent counterparts, can participate in aspects of normal development, including migration along well-established migratory pathways to disseminated CNS regions, differentiation into multiple developmentally- and regionally-appropriate cell types in response to microenvironmental cues, and non-disruptive, non-tumorigenic interspersion with host progenitors and their progeny. Readily genetically engineered prior to transplantation, human NSCs are capable of expressing foreign transgenes in vivo in these disseminated locations. Further supporting their potential for gene therapeutic applications, the secretory products from these NSCs can cross-correct a prototypical genetic metabolic defect in abnormal neurons and glia in vitro as effectively as do murine NSCs. Finally, human cells appear capable of replacing specific deficient neuronal populations in a mouse model of neurodegeneration and impaired development, much as murine NSCs could. Human NSCs may be propagated by a variety of means&mdash;both epigenetic (e.g., chronic mitogen exposure) and genetic (transduction of the propagating gene vmyc)&mdash;that are comparably safe (vmyc is constitutively downregulated by normal developmental mechanisms and environmental cues) and effective in yielding engraftable, migratory clones, suggesting that investigators may choose the propagation technique that best serves the demands of a particular research or clinical problem All clones can be cryopreserved and transplanted into multiple hosts in multiple settings.

Stable clones of neural stem cells (NSCs) have been isolated from the human fetal telencephalon. In vitro, these self-renewing clones (affirmed by retroviral insertion site) can spontaneously give rise to all 3 fundamental neural cell types (neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes). Following transplantation into germinal zones of the developing newborn mouse brain, they, like their rodent counterparts, can participate in aspects of normal development, including migration along well-established migratory pathways to disseminated CNS regions, differentiation into multiple developmentally- and regionally-appropriate cell types in response to microenvironmental cues, and non-disruptive, non-tumorigenic interspersion with host progenitors and their progeny. Readily genetically engineered prior to transplantation, human NSCs are capable of expressing foreign transgenes in vivo in these disseminated locations. Further supporting their potential for gene therapeutic applications, the secretory products from these NSCs can cross-correct a prototypical genetic metabolic defect in abnormal neurons and glia in vitro as effectively as do murine NSCs. Finally, human cells appear capable of replacing specific deficient neuronal populations in a mouse model of neurodegeneration and impaired development, much as murine NSCs could. Human NSCs may be propagated by a variety of means--both epigenetic (e.g., chronic mitogen exposure) and genetic (transduction of the propagating gene vmyc)--that are comparably safe (vmyc is constitutively downregulated by normal developmental mechanisms and environmental cues) and effective in yielding engraftable, migratory clones, suggesting that investigators may choose the propagation technique that best serves the demands of a particular research or clinical problem. All clones can be cryopreserved and transplanted into multiple hosts in multiple settings.

Growing community of inventors

Vancouver, Canada

Seung U Kim