Pharmaceuticals containing multipotential precursor cells from tissues containing sensory receptors

Abstract

Current sources of neural stem and progenitor cells for neural transplantation are essentially inaccessible in living animals. This invention relates to neural precursor cells (stem cells, progenitor cells or a combination of both types of cells) isolated from the olfactory epithelium of mammals that can be passaged and expanded, and that will differentiate into types of the central nervous system (CNS), including astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and tyrosinehydroxylase-positive neurons. These precursor cells provide an accessible source for autologous transplantation in CNS, PNS, spinal cord and other damaged tissues.

1 . A method of treating an individual having a neurodegenerative disease, said method comprising administering to said individual an isolated population of human neural stem cells of a postnatal mammal, wherein said neural stem cells form non-adherent clusters in culture, are self renewing, proliferate in an EGF-independent manner, express nestin, and differentiate, in the presence of serum, into neurons expressing tyrosine hydroxylase.  
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said neural stem cells are transfected with a heterologous gene.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said gene encodes a trophic factor.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said neural stem cells are formulated in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, auxiliary or excipient.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said neurodegenerative disease is Parkinson's disease.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said neural stem cells are from said individual.