3604results about "Nervous system cells" patented technology

The present invention relates to the use of umbilical cord blood cells from a donor or patient to provide neural cells which may be used in transplantation. The isolated cells according to the present invention may be used to effect autologous and allogeneic transplantation and repair of neural tissue, in particular, tissue of the brain and spinal cord and to treat neurodegenerative diseases of the brain and spinal cord.

A 3-dimensional structure comprising suitable cells (or entities) and the ECM (or matrix) that has been completely produced and arranged by these cells (or entities) that promotes the differentiation, dedifferentiation and/or transdifferentiation of cells and/or formation of tissue in vitro and in vivo, while at the same time promoting cell growth, proliferation, migration, acquisition of in vivo-like morphology, or combinations thereof, and that 1. provides structural and/or nutritional support to cells, tissue, organs, or combinations thereof, termed an “Autogenic Living Scaffold” (ALS); or 2. is capable of being transformed into a more complex tissue (or matrix) or a completely different type of tissue (or matrix), termed a “Living Tissue Matrix” (LTM). Autogenic means it is self-produced. The living cells that produce the LTM or ALS, or are added to Autogenic Living Scaffolds, may be genetically engineered or otherwise modified. The matrix component of the ALS or LTM provides a structural framework for cells that guide their direction of growth, enables them to be correctly spaced, prevents overcrowding, enables cells to communicate between each other, transmit subtle biological signals, receive signals from their environment, form bonds and contacts that are required for proper functioning of all cells within a unit such as a tissue, or combinations thereof. The ALS or LTM may thus provide proper or supporting mechanical and chemical environments, signals, or stimuli to other cells, to the cells that produce the ALS, to surrounding tissue at an implantation site, to a wound, for in vitro and ex vivo generation and regeneration of cells, tissue and organs, or combinations thereof. They may also provide other cells with nutrients, growth factors, and/or other necessary or useful components. They may also take in or serve as buffers for certain substances in the environment, and have also some potential at adapting to new environments.

The invention is in the area of pleuripotent stem cells generated from adipose tissue-derived stromal cells and uses thereof. In particular, the invention includes isolated adipose tissue derived stromal cells that have been induced to express at least one phenotypic characteristic of a neuronal, astroglial, hematopoietic progenitor, or hepatic cell. The invention also includes an isolated adipocyte tissue-derived stromal cell that has been dedifferentiated such that there is an absence of adipocyte phenotypic markers.

Cells derived from human umbilical cords are disclosed along with methods for their therapeutic use. Isolation techniques, culture methods and detailed characterization of the cells with respect to their cell surface markers, gene expression, and their secretion of trophic factors are described.

Cells derived from postpartum tissue such as the umbilical cord and placenta, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such cells, and methods for using such cells and pharmaceutical compositions to treat patients having a neurodegenerative condition of the substantia nigra or striatum, such as Parkinson's disease, are provided.

The present invention comprises methods and devices for modulating the activity or activities of living cells, such as cells found in or derived from humans, animals, plants, insects, microorganisms and other organisms. Methods of the present invention comprise use of the application of ultrasound, such as low intensity, low frequency ultrasound, to living cells to affect the cells and modulate the cells' activities. Devices of the present invention comprise one or more components for generating ultrasound waves, such as ultrasonic emitters, transducers or piezoelectric transducers, composite transducers, CMUTs, and which may be provided as single or multiple transducers or in an array configurations. The ultrasound waves may be of any shape, and may be focused or unfocused.

The present invention provides for identification and use of small molecules to induce pluripotency in mammalian cells as well as other methods of inducing pluripotency.

A material that can be applied as implants designed to artificially replace or augment the cornea, such as an artificial cornea, corneal onlay, or corneal inlay (intrastromal lens) is provided. The artificial corneal implant has a double network hydrogel with a first network interpenetrated with a second network. The first network and the second network are based on biocompatible polymers. At least one of the network polymers is based on a hydrophilic polymer. The artificial cornea or implant has epithelialization promoting biomolecules that are covalently linked to the surface of the double network hydrogel using an azide-active-ester chemical linker. Corneal epithelial cells or cornea-derived cells are adhered to the biomolecules. The double network has a physiologic diffusion coefficient to allow passage of nutrients to the adhered cells.

Human mesenchymal stromal cells can be induced to differentiate into oligodendrocytes and neurons, respectively. For these cell types, therefore, MSCs can be a therapeutic source, either in vitro or in vivo, in the context of treating pathologies of the central nervous system which are characterized by neuron loss, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and stroke, as well as head trauma, or by dysfunction in ganglioside storage or demyelinization, such as Tay-Sachs disease, G1 gangliosidosis, metachromatic leukodystrophy, and multiple sclerosis.

The production of high quality retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) cells is necessary for research and potential therapeutic uses. Especially desirable are methods for the production of RPE cells using xeno-free culture conditions. Disclosed herein are novel methods for the production of RPE cells from pluripotent cells with high yields, including xeno-free production methods. Also provided are methods of efficiently isolating RPE cells from cultures containing heterogeneous cell types, allowing for substantially pure RPE cell cultures to be established. Additionally, novel methods for the cryopreservation of RPE cells are provided.

This invention relates to a lamellae tissue layer, comprising a grooved silk fibroin substrate comprising tissue-specific cells. The silk fibroin substrates provides an excellent means of controlling and culturing cell and extracellular matrix development. A multitude of lamellae tissue layers can be used to create a tissue-engineered organ, such as a tissue-engineered cornea. The tissue-engineered organ is non-immunogenic and biocompatible.

Methods are provided for the in vitro differentiation of human retinal progenitor cells from embryonic stem cells.

This disclosure provides an improved system for culturing human pluripotent stem cells. Traditionally, pluripotent stem cells are cultured on a layer of mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder cells to prevent them from differentiating. In the system described here, the role of feeder cells is replaced by defined components added to the culture environment that support rapid proliferation without differentiation. The medium contains an isotonic buffer, a blend of essential nutrients such as protein and lipids, and an effective growth factor or combination of factors that promote proliferation while inhibiting differentiation. Culturing human embryonic stem cells in fresh medium on an extracellular matrix according to this invention causes the cells to expand surprisingly rapidly, while retaining the ability to differentiate into cells representing all three embryonic germ layers. This new culture system allows for bulk proliferation of pPS cells for commercial production of important products for use in drug screening and human therapy.

The present invention relates to a composition for implantation in the subretinal space of an eye, the composition including amniotic membrane, which may be cryopreserved human amniotic membrane, and a plurality of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells or RPE equivalent cells present at the amniotic membrane. The amniotic membrane may be intact, epithelially denuded, or otherwise treated. The invention includes the use of amniotic membrane for the culturing of RPE cells thereon, forming a surgical graft for replacement of Bruch's membrane as a substrate, and for the transplanting of RPE cells to the subretinal space. The composition does not elicit immunological reactions to alloantigens or to RPE specific autoantigens; and exerts anti-inflammatory, anti angiogentic, and anti-scarring effects. The invention includes methods and kits for making or using composites including amniotic membrane and RPE cells. Also disclosed is a device for harvesting RPE cells.

The invention features peptide scaffolds that are useful in the repair and replacement of various tissues. The invention also provides methods for making these scaffolds and methods for using them.

The invention provides a method for modulating gene expression by contacting a cellular system with a double-stranded ribonucleic acid molecule capable of associating with a regulatory machinery that controls transcription of one or more genes, wherein the association results in altered expression of the one or more genes. The invention is further directed to method for directing the differentiation of neuronal stem cells into neurons by contacting a cellular system with a double-stranded ribonucleic acid molecule capable of associating with a regulatory machinery that controls transcription of one or more genes involved in neuronal differentiation and directing the transcription of the one or more genes. In related embodiments, the invention provides particular compositions of double-stranded ribonucleic acid molecules as well as therapeutic and screening applications of the invention.

Methods are described for mapping a pathway of differentiation of a population of embryonic cells which includes exposing the cells to an exogenous factor and measuring gene expression products that are characteristic of a particular cell type or lineage. Directing differentiation of human embryonic cells relies on dissociated embryoid bodies which are then exposed to one or more exogenous factors to enrich a culture for a particular cell type. The differentiated cells may be used for treating a medical condition in a human. Kits for determining differentiation pathways and screening exogenous factors for their utility in differentiation are provided.

Neural stem cells which can be provided stably and which are free from the problem of compatibility in transplantation are disclosed. The stem cells are separated from human amniotic mesenchymal cell layer and express vimentin, nestin and BrdU which are markers of neural stem cells. The stem cells can also be differentiated to cells expressing alkaline phosphatase, that is, osteocytes, and to cells expressing collagen type II, that is, chondrocytes.

The present invention provides a preparation of undifferentiated embryonic stem (ES) cells sustainable for a prolonged period in an undifferentiated state which will undergo stem cell renewal or somatic differentiation. Preferably the cells are capable of somatic differentiation in vitro and are inclined to differentiate away from an extraembryonic lineage. The present invention also provides method of culturing embryonic stem (ES) cells to improve stem cell maintenance and persistence in culture. The method also provides a culture of ES cells prepared by the method as well as differentiated cells derived from the embryonic cells resulting from directed differentiation procedures provided by the present invention.