Methods for obtaining adult human olfactory progenitor cells

Abstract

An isolated human olfactory stem cell can be prepared by culturing human tissue from olfactory neuroepithelium to form neurospheres.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A primary culture, or a subculture thereof, of human olfactory neuroepithelium (ONe)-sourced cells comprising cells that are, individually, immunoreactive for both nestin and beta-tubulin isotype III. 
     
     
         2 . The culture of  claim 1 , wherein the culture comprises neurospheres. 
     
     
         3 . The culture of  claim 2 , wherein the neurospheres comprise cells that are each immunoreactive for both nestin and beta-tubulin isotype III. 
     
     
         4 . The culture of  claim 1 , wherein the cells that are immunoreactive for both nestin and beta-tubulin isotype III can, under appropriate conditions, differentiate into neurons and oligodendrocytes. 
     
     
         5 . The culture of  claim 1 , wherein the source of the cells is an adult donor. 
     
     
         6 . The culture of  claim 1 , wherein the source of the cells is a live donor. 
     
     
         7 . The culture of  claim 6 , wherein the live donor is afflicted with a neurological disorder. 
     
     
         8 . The culture of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the cells that are immunoreactive for both nestin and beta-tubulin isotype III further comprise a transgene. 
     
     
         9 . The culture of  claim 1 , wherein the cells that are immunoreactive for both nestin and beta-tubulin isotype III double every 18-24 hours in Olfactory Epithelial Medium (OEM) at 37° C. in an atmosphere of humidified 5% CO 2 , wherein the OEM consists of 90% Minimal Essential Medium with Hanks' salts with L-glutamine and 10% FBS. 
     
     
         10 . The culture of  claim 1 , wherein the culture comprises one or more differentiation factors. 
     
     
         11 . The culture of  claim 10 , wherein the differentiation factor is a growth factor. 
     
     
         12 . The culture of  claim 1 , wherein the culture comprises dibutryl cAMP. 
     
     
         13 . The culture of  claim 1 , wherein the culture comprises about 1% to about 30% serum. 
     
     
         14 . The culture of  claim 1 , wherein the culture is a subculture. 
     
     
         15 . The culture of  claim 1 , wherein the culture has been passaged multiple times. 
     
     
         16 . The culture of  claim 1 , wherein the culture has been passaged at least 200 times. 
     
     
         17 . The culture of  claim 1 , wherein the culture is frozen. 
     
     
         18 . A primary culture, or a subculture thereof, of human olfactory neuroepithelium (ONe)-sourced cells comprising neurospheres, wherein the neurospheres comprise cells that are, individually, immunoreactive for both nestin and beta-tubulin isotype III. 
     
     
         19 . Neurospheres derived from numan olfactory neuroepithelium (ONe), wherein the neurospheres comprise cells that are, individually, immunoreactive for both nestin and beta-tubulin isotype III, or progeny of the cells that are, individually, immunoreactive for both nestin and beta-tubulin isotype III, wherein the progeny of the cells are capable of forming neurospheres. 
     
     
         20 . A kit, comprising:
 a plurality of human ONe-sourced cells that are, individually, immunoreactive for both nestin and beta-tubulin isotype III; and   instructional material, wherein the instructional material comprises text that indicates that the plurality of human ONe-sourced cells are, individually, immunoreactive for both nestin and beta-tubulin isotype III.   
     
     
         21 . The kit of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of cells are frozen. 
     
     
         22 . The kit of  claim 20 , wherein the instructional material further comprises a recipe for culture media. 
     
     
         23 . The kit of  claim 20 , wherein the instructional material further comprises instructions for re-initiating a culture of the plurality of cells.