40 results about "Neural degeneration" 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.

The invention concerns agonist anti-trkC monoclonal antibodies which mimic certain biological activities of NT-3, the native ligand of trkC. The invention further concerns the use of such antibodies in the prevention and / or treatment of cellular degeneration, including nerve cell damage associated with acute nervous cell system injury and chronic neurodegenerative diseases, including peripheral neuropathy.

The invention relates to the use of cannabinoid-containing plant extracts in the prevention or treatment of neural degeneration. In particular, the invention relates to use of one or more cannabinoid-containing plant extracts in the prevention or treatment of neural degeneration, wherein the one or more cannabinoid-containing plant extracts comprise: i) a cannabinoid-containing fraction; and ii) a non-cannabinoid containing fraction.

There is provided a method of inducing differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells to neural cells or skeletal muscle cells by introduction of a Notch gene. Specifically, the invention provides a method of inducing differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells to neural cells or skeletal muscle cells in vitro, which method comprises introducing a Notch gene and / or a Notch signaling related gene into the cells, wherein the finally obtained differentiated cells are the result of cell division of the bone marrow stromal cells into which the Notch gene and / or Notch signaling related gene have been introduced. The invention also provides a method of inducing further differentiation of the differentiation-induced neural cells to dopaminergic neurons or acetylcholinergic neurons. The invention yet further provides a treatment method for neurodegenerative and skeletal muscle degenerative diseases which employs neural precursor cells, neural cells or skeletal muscle cells produced by the method of the invention.

The invention relates to the use of cannabinoid-containing plant extracts in the prevention or treatment of neural degeneration. In particular, the invention relates to use of one or more cannabinoid-containing plant extracts in the prevention or treatment of neural degeneration, wherein the one or more cannabinoid-containing plant extracts comprise: i) a cannabinoid-containing fraction; and ii) a non-cannabinoid containing fraction.

The invention relates to an indoleamine2,3-dioxygenase inhibitor having a structure as shown in a formula (I), as well as a preparation method and application thereof. The IDO inhibitor is (Z)-N'-hydroxyl-N-benzoate derivative, has high inhibiting activity for IDO, can be used for effectively inhibiting the IDO activity and inhibiting immunosuppression of patients, can be widely applied to treatment or prevention of cancer or tumors, virus infection, depression, neural degeneration disease, trauma, age related cataract, organ transplant rejection or autoimmune disease, and is expected to be developed into a new generation of immunosuppressors.

Disclosed are antibodies specific for alpha-synuclein conformers and methods related thereto. For example, disclosed are methods of diagnosing a neurodegenerative monitoring a neurodegenerative disease treatment using the disclosed antibodies. Assays, kits, and solid supports related to alpha-synuclein and antibodies specific for alpha-synuclein are also disclosed.

Provided are cortical interneurons and other neuronal cells and in vitro methods for producing such cortical interneurons and other neuronal cells by the directed differentiation of stem cells and neuronal progenitor cells. The present disclosure relates to novel methods of in vitro differentiation of stem cells and neural progenitor cells to produce several type neuronal cells and their precursor cells, including cortical interneurons, hypothalamic neurons and pre-optic cholinergic neurons. The present disclose describes the derivation of these cells via inhibiting SMAD and Wnt signaling pathways and activating SHH signaling pathway. The present disclosure relates to the novel discovery that the timing and duration of SHH activation can be harnessed to direct controlled differentiation of neural progenitor cells into either cortical interneurons, hypothalamic neurons or pre-optic cholinergic neurons. The present disclosure also relates to compositions of cortical interneurons, hypothalamic neurons or pre-optic cholinergic neurons, and their precursors, that are highly enriched and can be used in variety of application. These cells can be used therapeutically to treat neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, and can be used for disease modeling and drug screening.

The present invention is related generally to embryonic-like stem cells isolated from adult human peripheral blood, designated herein as peripheral blood-stem cells (PB-SC), which display the characteristics of embryonic stem cells and hematopoietic cells. These cells have the capability of proliferation and are able to differentiate to other types of cells. These cells are, therefore, suitable for use in stem cell-based therapies, particularly autologous stem cell therapies, for the treatment of various diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, spinal cord damage, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease, stroke and birth defects.

The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting differentiation of a population of neural stem cells by contacting a purinergic receptor agonist and a population of neural stem cells under conditions effective to inhibit differentiation of the population of neural stem cells. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of producing neurons and / or glial cells from a population of neural stem cells by culturing a population of neural stem cells with a purinergic receptor antagonist under conditions effective to cause the neural stem cells to differentiate into neurons and / or glial cells. The purinergic receptor agonist can also be used in a method of inducing proliferation and self-renewal of neural stem cells in a subject and a method of treating a neurological disease or neurodegenerative condition in a subject. The purinergic receptor antagonist can also be used in treating a neoplastic disease of the brain or spinal cord in a subject.

This invention relates to the novel identification of myelin-associated glycoprotein ("MAG") as a potent inhibitor of neural regeneration. More particularly, this invention relates to compositions and methods useful for reversing inhibition of neural regeneration in the central and peripheral nervous system. Assays to monitor the effects of MAG on neural regeneration and to identify agents which will block or promote the inhibitory effects of MAG on neural outgrowth are provided. Screening methods for identifying such agents are also provided. This invention also relates to compositions and methods using agents that can reverse the inhibitory effects of MAG on neural regeneration. Methods for regulating and for promoting neural growth or regeneration in the nervous system, methods for treating injuries or damage to nervous tissue or neurons, and methods for treating neural degeneration associated with disorders or diseases, comprising the step of administering at least one of the compositions according to this invention are provided.

Methods for producing a population of human-derived glial restricted progenitor cells (GRPs) with decreased potentially unintended or undesired cellular phenotypes and / or decreased standard deviation in the cells of the population are provided. Also provided are antibody panels and gene expression profiles to characterize GRPs and a method for its use in characterizing GRP cells. In addition methods for use of these GRP cells to generate astrocytes and / or oligodendrocytes, to re-myelinate neurons and to treat glial cell related and other neurodegenerative diseases or disorders or injuries or damage to the nervous system are provided. A method to manufacture neural cells depleted of A2B5 positive cells is also provided.

The present invention describes a method for the in vitro diagnosis, prognosis and / or treatment monitoring of neurodegenerative, neurological and inflammation-based diseases, wherein the method comprises the steps: a) isolating microglial microvesicles (MVs) from biological fluids obtained from an individual; b) collecting the microRNA (miRNA) contained into said MVs; c) determining the expression profile of a predetermined set of miRNA; d) comparing said expression profile to one or several reference expression profiles, wherein the comparison of said determined expression profile to said one or several reference expression profiles allows for the diagnosis, prognosis and / or treatment monitoring of the disease.

The invention relates to the novel identification of inhibitors of phosphodiesterase type 4 (“PDE4”) as agents which can reverse inhibition of neural regeneration in the mammalian central and peripheral nervous system. The invention provides compositions and methods using agents that can reverse the inhibitory effects on neural regeneration by regulating PDE4 expression. A composition comprising at least one PDE4 inhibitor in an amount effective to inhibit PDE4 activity in a neuron when administered to an animal is provided. Methods for regulating (e.g., promoting) neural growth or regeneration in the nervous system, methods for treating injuries or damage to nervous tissue or neurons, and methods for treating neural degeneration associated with disorders or diseases, comprising the step of administering to an animal a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an agent which inhibits phosphodiesterase IV activity in a neuron are provided.

The present invention provides a method of differentiating and proliferating a mesenchymal stem cell into the neural cell by culturing in a medium comprising an epidermal growth factor and a hepatocyte growth factor after confluent culture of the mesenchymal stem cell. The present invention provides more effective method of differentiating and proliferating the mesenchymal stem cell or the mononuclear cell comprising the mesenchymal stem cell into the neural cell with a neuron and an astrocyte in terms of time, efficiency and maturity as compared with conventional methods.

Disclosed herein are methods for generating dopaminergic neurons in vitro by inhibiting a pathway component of a TGF-β signaling pathway and overexpressing one or more cell fate-inducing polypeptides in pluripotent cells, causing differentiation of the pluripotent cells into dopaminergic neurons. Also disclosed are methods for treating a neurodegenerative disease in a patient by generating dopaminergic neurons in vitro, and transplanting them into the brain of the patient, such that the dopaminergic neurons are sufficient to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of the neurodegenerative disease.

The present disclosure is directed to improved methods for efficiently producing neuroprogenitor cells and differentiated neural cells such as GABAergic neurons from pluripotent stem cells, for example embryonic stem cells. Using the disclosed methods, cell populations containing a high proportion of GABAergic neurons have been isolated. The neuroprogenitor cells and terminally differentiated cells of the present disclosure can be generated in large quantities, and therefore may serve as an excellent source for cell replacement therapy in neurodegenerative disorders and neuronal diseases such as stroke, ischemia, epilepsy, and Huntington's disease.

Transgenic non-mammalian animals, e.g. flies, that exhibit an adult onset neurodegenerative phenotype, as well as methods for preparing the same, are provided. Also provided are methods of using the subject transgenic non-mammalian animals to identify compounds having activity with respect to adult onset neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, kits for screening compounds for anti-neurodegenerative activity are provided.

Transgenic non-mammalian animals, e.g. flies, that exhibit an adult onset neurodegenerative phenotype, as well as methods for preparing the same, are provided. Also provided are methods of using the subject transgenic non-mammalian animals to identify compounds having activity with respect to adult onset neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, kits for screening compounds for anti-neurodegenerative activity are provided.

The present invention relates generally to products, compositions and methods useful for promoting neural repair and regeneration. The products and compositions of this invention include myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) derivatives that are inhibitors of endogenous MAG (e.g., mutant MAG proteins) and Nogo Receptor (NgR) binding inhibitors that are peptides derived from MAG, Nogo and OMgp that can bind to NgR and block NgR signaling. Peptides that can bind and activate NgR signaling are also provided. Inhibitory MAG derivatives and NgR binding inhibitors are useful for blocking the inhibition of neural regeneration mediated by proteins such as MAG, Nogo and / or OMgp in the nervous system. These inhibitors are also useful for treating neural degeneration associated with injuries, disorders or diseases.

The invention relates to a 2,4-bis-substituted acetophenone compound and optical isomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The invention further discloses an application of the 2,4-bis-substituted acetophenone compound and the optical isomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof in the aspect of treatment of neural degeneration diseases. The novel compounds have acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity and A beta aggregation inhibiting ability, and hydrolyzates of the novel compounds further have a metal ion chelation action, so that the novel compounds can be used for carrying out treatment from a plurality of targets and have a better application prospect in the treatment of the neural degeneration diseases.

The invention discloses an application of trillium tschonoskii maxim steroid saponin to preparation of medicines for protecting nerves. Steroid saponin DTCA and steroid saponin ETCA obtained through extraction from trillium tschonoskii maxim are used as active components to be used for activating autophagy revulsants having high-efficacy oxidation resisting effects, through autophagy, oxidation resisting stress response is promoted, the cell viability is increased, the intra-cellular ROS level of damaged PC12 cell induced by H2O2 is reduced, the nerve is protected, and the potential of treating neural degeneration diseases is exerted.

A method of treating a subject and preventing in a subject age-dependent basal forebrain cholinergic dysfunction related neurodegenerative disorders, comprising: administering a lipid composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of highly enriched 1-acyl chains / 2-docosahexaenoic acid containing molecular species of highly pure phospholipids to promote survival of aged basal forebrain cholinergic neurons, the phospholipids selected from the group consisting of phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidyl-monomethylethanolamine. A composition for treating a subject and preventing in a subject age-dependent basal forebrain cholinergic dysfunction related neurodegenerative disorders, the composition comprising: a lipid composition comprising: a therapeutically effective amount of highly enriched 1-acyl chains / 2-docosahexaenoic acid containing molecular species of highly pure phospholipids to promote survival of aged basal forebrain cholinergic neurons, the phospholipids selected from the group consisting of phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidyl-monomethylethanolamine. A process for preparing a lipid composition comprising a therapeutically amount of natural source-based highly enriched 1-acyl chains / 2-docosahexaenoic acid containing molecular species of highly pure phosphatidylserine to promote survival of aged basal forebrain cholinergic neurons; the process comprising: purifying a natural source-based phosphatidylcholine by silica chromatography; obtaining a related lysophosphatidylserine species by phospholipase A2 catalysis of transphosphatidylated natural source-based phosphatidylserine species; acylating the lysophosphatidylserine species with natural docosahexaenoic acid to form 1-acyl chains / 2-docosahexaenoic acid containing phosphatidylserine species; and purifying the 1-acyl cgains / 2-docosahexaenoic acid containing phosphatidylserine species by silica chromatography.

The present invention provides low molecular weight porphyrin compositions for inhibiting, preventing or delaying the binding of a ligand of a mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptor. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising these porphyrin compositions and their use in the treatment of conditions involving the mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptor or interactions between the receptor and the mitochondrial permeability transition pore e.g., drug overdose or apoptosis including neural degeneration and radiation-induced apoptosis.

To supply substantially isolated neural cells in a large amount, and to provide an application means for a neuroregenerative medicine or the like for a neurodegenerative disease, a nervous damage or the like. A method for producing a substantially isolated neural cell, comprising the step of carrying out the suspension culture of embryonic stem cells in the presence of an astrocyte conditioned medium or ingredients substantially equivalent to the conditioned medium; and a neural cell obtained thereby; a cell pharmaceutical composition comprising, as an active ingredient, the isolated neural stem cell; and a method for treating a neurodegenerative disease or nervous damage, comprising the step of introducing the neural cell into a neurodegenerative site or a nervous damage site.

This invention relates to the novel identification of arginase as an enzymatic activity which can reverse inhibition of neuronal regeneration in the central and peripheral nervous system. Assays to monitor the effects of various agents on arginase expression and thus on neuronal regeneration and repair and to identify agents which will block or promote the inhibitory effects on neuronal outgrowth are provided. This invention also relates to compositions and methods using agents that can reverse the inhibitory effects of myelin on neural regeneration by affecting arginase activity or putrescine and derivative polyamine levels in a neuron. Methods for regulating and for promoting (or repressing) neuronal growth or regeneration in the nervous system, methods for treating injuries or damage to nervous tissue or neurons, and methods for treating neural degeneration associated with conditions, disorders or diseases, comprising the step of administering at least one of the compositions according to this invention, are provided.

The invention relates to a heterocyclic compound for treating Alzheimer disease and a preparation method thereof. The heterocyclic compound has a good effect of inhibiting the activity of acetyl cholinesterase; as proved by a behavioral experiment research of a senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM-P / 8), the heterocyclic compound can effectively improve the memory function of the SAM-P / 8 mouse, so that the heterocyclic compound can be used for treating cognitive dysfunction and / or neural degeneration dementia with abnormal protein aggregation, particularly the Alzheimer disease.