Method Of Preparing An Undifferentiated Cell

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of preparing an undifferentiated cell. The method includes contacting a more committed cell with an agent that causes the more committed cell to retrodifferentiate into an undifferentiated cell.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a method of preparing an undifferentiated cell. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of preparing an undifferentiated cell from a more committed cell.[0002]In addition the present invention relates to the use of the undifferentiated cell of the present invention for the preparation of a new more committed cell—i.e. a recommitted cell.[0003]The present invention also relates to the use of the undifferentiated cell of the present invention or the recommitted cell of the present invention to have an effect (directly or indirectly via the use of products obtained therefrom) on the immune system, such as the alleviation of symptoms associated with, or the partial or complete cure from, an immunological condition or disease.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION[0004]Differentiation is a process whereby structures and functions of cells are progressively committed to give rise to more specialised cells, such as the form...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023]In a specific embodiment there is provided a method of increasing the relative number of undifferentiated cells in a cell population including committed cells, which method comprises:

[0032]Thus in a preferred embodiment the present invention also provides a method of increasing the relative number of cells having a cell surface marker designation CD34+, CD38−, HLA-DR− and / or CD45low in a cell population including committed cells, which method comprises:

[0040](ii) incubating committed cells that are engaged by said agent such that they become undifferentiated cells as a result of said engaging, thereby resulting in an altered cell population comprising increased numbers of said undifferentiated cells.

[0045]The term “recommitted cell” means a cell derived from the undifferentiated cell—i.e. a new more committed cell. “More committed” means more differentiated and can easily be determined by reference to known pathways and stages of cell differentiation.

[0056]The present invention is highly advantageous as it is now possible to prepare undifferentiated cells from more committed cells and then use those undifferentiated cells as, or to prepare, medicaments either in vitro or in vivo or combinations thereof for the treatments of disorders.

[0057]The present invention is also advantageous as it is possible to commit the undifferentiated cell prepared by retrodifferentiation to a recommitted cell, such as a new differentiated cell, with a view to correcting or removing the original more committed cell or for correcting or removing a product thereof.

Problems solved by technology

Stem cells are extremely difficult to obtain from human patients.

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