Methods and compositions for neural progenitor cells

Abstract

The invention relates to methods and compositions for the isolation of neural progenitor cells.

1 .- 14 . (canceled)  
     
     
         15 . An isolated population of neural crest derived neural progenitor cells, wherein said population includes multipotent cells that are insensitive to neuregulin.  
     
     
         16 . The population according to  claim 15 , wherein said population comprises multipotent neuronal progenitor (proNP) cells.  
     
     
         17 . The population according to  claim 15 , wherein said population comprises normeuronal progenitor (NNP) cells.  
     
     
         18 . The population according to  claim 15 , wherein said population comprises committed neuronal progenitor (NP) cells.  
     
     
         19 . The population according to  claim 15 , wherein said population is isolated by contacting said neural progenitor cells with an antibody that specifically binds to RET antigen.  
     
     
         20 . The population according to  claim 19 , wherein said antibody binds to at least part of the extracellular domain of RET protein.  
     
     
         21 . The population according to  claim 19 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         22 . The population according to  claim 21 , wherein said monoclonal antibody is produced by a hybridoma cell line.  
     
     
         23 . The population according to  claim 19 , wherein said antibody is a polyclonal antibody.  
     
     
         24 . The population according to  claim 19 , wherein said antibody comprises antibody fragments.  
     
     
         25 . The population according to  claim 19 , wherein said antibody is a single-chain antibody.  
     
     
         26 . The population according to  claim 19 , wherein said antibody is fluorochrome conjugated.  
     
     
         27 . An isolated population of neural crest derived neural progenitor cells, wherein said population includes multipotent cells that are insensitive to neuregulin, and wherein said population is prepared by a method comprising: 
 a) combining a mixed population of cells comprising neural crest derived cells comprising neural progenitor cells comprising RET protein with an antibody that specifically binds to at least part of an extracellular domain of said RET protein; and    b) selecting for RET positive cells which include multipotent cells that are insensitive to neuregulin.    
     
     
         28 . The population according to  claim 27 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         29 . The population according to  claim 28 , wherein said monoclonal antibody is produced by a hybridoma cell line.  
     
     
         30 . The population according to  claim 27 , wherein said antibody is a polyclonal antibody.  
     
     
         31 . The population according to  claim 27 , wherein said antibody comprises antibody fragments.  
     
     
         32 . The population according to  claim 27 , wherein said antibody is a single-chain antibody.  
     
     
         33 . The population according to  claim 27 , wherein said antibody is fluorochrome conjugated.  
     
     
         34 . The population according to  claim 33 , wherein said selecting for said RET positive cells is by flow cytometry.  
     
     
         35 . The population according to  claim 27 , wherein said population comprises cells selected from the group consisting of multipotent neuronal progenitor (proNP) cells, normeuronal progenitor (NNP) cells, and committed neuronal progenitor (NP) cells.