Immortalized Human Dopamine Cells to Improve Neurological Deficits / Fetal neurons as treatment for parkinson's disease

Description:

The implantation of fetal brain tissue has been used to treat patients with neurodegenerative diseases. The main limitations of fetal tissue in existing approaches are the lack of availability of appropriate aged tissue and the variability between specimens. To circumvent these inherent problems as well as additional social concerns, many groups have sought cellular alternatives to fetal tissue. We have immortalized human fetal brain cells by transfecting them with a plasmid vector which carries a large T-antigen gene from polyoma virus. The immortalized cell population contains all the cell types which are present in the human brain. By the use of different types of growth media, cell surface substrates, and cloning, we have established a cell line, which expresses polyoma Lta protein, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine transporter protein (DAT). The presence of TH and DAT indicates these cells are dopaminergic neurons. The immortalized dopamine neurons are non-tumoregenic.

Direct Link:

http://cuamc.technologypublisher.com/technology/48250

Category:

Therapeutics

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For Information, Contact:

Doreen Molk

University of Colorado

doreen.molk@cuanschutz.edu

Inventors:

Kedar Prasad

Curt Freed

Disease Areas:

Neurology

Regenerative Medicine