Method of preparing an undifferentiated cell

Abstract

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

1 . A method of preparing an undifferentiated cell, the method comprising contacting a more committed cell with an agent that causes the more committed cell to retrodifferentiate into an undifferentiated cell.  
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the more committed cell is capable of retrodifferentiating into an MHC Class I +  and/or an MHC Class II +  undifferentiated cell.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein the more committed cell is capable of retrodifferentiating into an undifferentiated cell comprising a stem cell antigen.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the more committed cell is capable of retrodifferentiating into a CD34 +  undifferentiated cell.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the more committed cell is capable of retrodifferentiating into a lymphohaematopoietic progenitor cell.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the more committed cell is capoable of retrodifferentiating into a pluripotent stem cell.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the undifferentiated cell is an MHC Class I +  and/or an MHC Class II +  cell.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the undifferentiated cell comprises a stem cell antigen.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the undifferentiated cell is a CD34 +  undifferentiated cell.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the undifferentiated cell is a lymphohaematopoietic progenitor cell.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the undifferentiated cell is a pluripotent stem cell.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the more committed cell is an MHC Class I +  and or an MHC Class II +  cell.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the agent acts extracelluarly of the more committed cell.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the more committed cell comprises a receptor that is operably engageable by the agent and wherein the agent operably engages the receptor.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein the receptor is a cell surface receptor.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 14  or  claim 15  wherein the receptor comprises an α-component and/or a β-component.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16  wherein the receptor comprises a β-chain having homologous regions.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the receptor comprises at least the homologous regions of the β-chain of HLA-DR.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 16  wherein the receptor comprises an α-chain having homologous regions.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19  wherein the receptor comprises at least the homologous regions of the α-chain of HLA-DR.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to any one of  claims 14  to  20  wherein the agent is an antibody to the receptor.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21  wherein the agent is a monoclonal antibody to the receptor.  
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein the agent is an antibody, preferably a monoclonal antibody, to the homologous regions of the β-chain of HLA-DR.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein the agent is an antibody, preferably a monoclonal antibody, to the homologous regions of the α-chain of HLA-DR.  
     
     
         25 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the agent modulates MHC gene expression, preferably wherein the agent modulates MHC Class I +  and/or MHC Class II +  expression.  
     
     
         26 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the agent is used in conjunction with a biological response modifier.  
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein the biological response modifier is an alkylating agent, preferably wherein the alkylating agent is or comprises cyclophosphoamide.  
     
     
         28 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the more committed cell is a differentiated cell.  
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 28  wherein the more committed cell is any one of a B cell or a T cell.  
     
     
         30 . A method according to any one of  claims 1  to  27  wherein the more committed cell is a more mature undifferentiated cell.  
     
     
         31 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the undifferentiated cell is committed to a recommitted cell.  
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the recommitted cell is of the same lineage as the more committed cell prior to retrodifferentiation.  
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the recommitted cell is of a different lineage as the more committed cell prior to retrodifferentiation.  
     
     
         34 . A method according to any one of  claims 31  to  33  wherein the recommitted cell is any one of a B cell, a T cell or a granulocyte.  
     
     
         35 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the method is an in vitro method.  
     
     
         36 . An undifferentiated cell produced according to the method of any one of  claims 1  to  35 .  
     
     
         37 . An undifferentiated cell produced according to the method of any one of  claims 1  to  35  for use as or in the preparation of a medicament.  
     
     
         38 . Use of an undifferentiated cell produced according to the method of any one of  claims 1  to  37  in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of an immunological disorder or disease.  
     
     
         39 . A recommitted cell produced according to the method of any one of  claims 31  to  35 .  
     
     
         40 . A recommitted cell produced according to the method of any one of  claims 31  to  35  for use as or in the preparation of a medicament.  
     
     
         41 . Use of a recommitted cell produced according to the method of any one of claims  31  to  35  in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of an immunological disorder or disease.  
     
     
         42 . A more committed cell having attached thereto an agent that can cause the more committed cell to retrodifferentiate into an undifferentiated cell.  
     
     
         43 . A CD19 +  and CD3 +  cell.  
     
     
         44 . A method of preparing an undifferentiated cell from a more committed cell substantially as hereinbefore described.  
     
     
         45 . An undifferentiated cell prepared from a more committed cell substantially as hereinbefore described.  
     
     
         46 . A recommitted cell prepared from an undifferentiated cell which has been prepared from a more committed cell substantially as hereinbefore described.