Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Animal cell – per se ; composition thereof; process of...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-09
2004-12-07
Crouch, Deborah (Department: 1632)
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Animal cell, per se ; composition thereof; process of...
C435S326000, C435S007100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06828145
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for isolating mammalian stem cells from a population of cells by immunolabeling the population of cells with MHC/HLA gene-product markers. Further embodiments of the present invention are directed to the purification and enrichment of cells so isolated.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Nearly every cell in an animal's body, from neural to blood to bone, owes its existence to a stem cell. A stem cell is commonly defined as a cell that (i) is capable of renewing itself; and (ii) can give rise to more than one type of cell (that is, a differentiated cell) through asymmetric cell division. F. M. Watt and B. L. M. Hogan, “Out of Eden: Stem Cells and Their Niches,”
Science,
284, 1427-1430 (2000). Stem cells give rise to a type of stem cell called progenitor cells; progenitor cells, in turn, proliferate into the differentiated cells that populate the body.
The prior art describes the development, from stem cell to differentiated cells, of various tissues throughout the body. U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,301, for example, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, describes the process of hematopoiesis, the development of the various cells that comprise blood. The process begins with what may be a pluripotent stem cell, a cell that can give rise to every cell of an organism (there is only one cell that exhibits greater developmental plasticity than a pluripotent stem cell; this is a fertilized ovum, a single, totipotent stem cell that can give rise to an entire organism when implanted into the uterus). The pluripotent stem cell gives rise to a myeloid stem cell. Certain maturation-promoting polypeptides cause the myeloid stem cell to differentiate into precursor cells, which in turn differentiate into various progenitor cells. It is the progenitor cells that proliferate into the various lymphocytes, neutrophils, macrophages, and other cells that comprise blood tissue of the body.
This description of hematopoiesis is vastly incomplete, of course: biology has yet to determine a complete lineage for all the cells of the blood (e.g., it is has yet to identify all the precursor cells between the myeloid stem cell and the progenitor cells to which it gives rise), and it has yet to determine precisely how or why the myeloid cell differentiates into progenitor cells. Even so, hematopoiesis is particularly well studied; even less is known of the development of other organ systems. With respect to the brain and its development, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,180, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, describes the “current lack of understanding of histogenesis during brain development.” U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,553, the disclosure of which is hereby also incorporated by reference, describes the “uncertainty in the art concerning the development potential of neural crest cells.”
The identification and isolation of stem cells has daunted researchers for decades. To date, no one has identified an individual neural stem cell or hematopoietic stem cell. F. H. Gage, “Mammalian Neural Stem Cells,”
Science,
287, 1433-1488 (2000). There are two principal difficulties. First, stem cells are rare. In bone marrow, for example, where hematopoiesis occurs, there is only one stem cell for every several billion bone marrow cells. G. Vogel, “Can Old Cells Learn New Tricks?”
Science,
287, 1418-1419 (2000). Second, and more importantly, researchers have heretofore been unable to identify molecular markers which are unique to stem cells; to the typical immunoassay, most stem cells look like any other cell. Id. Compounding this problem is that primitive stem cells may be in a quiescent state. As a result, they may express few molecular markers. F. H. Gage, supra.
A method to identify and effectively isolate stem cells would be of immense importance. Researchers are already transplanting immature neurons, presumed to contain neural stem cells, from human fetuses to adult patients with neurodegenerative disease. The procedure has reduced symptoms by up to 50% in patients with Parkinson's disease in one study. M. Barinaga, “Fetal Neuron Grafts Pave the Way for Stem Cell Therapies,”
Science,
287, 1421-1422 (2000). Many of the shortcomings of this procedure, including the ethical and practical difficulties of using material derived from fetuses, could be addressed by using cultures of isolated stem cells, or stem cells obtained from adult individuals.
Transplantation of purified hematopoietic stem cells could replace bone marrow transplants. Such stem cells are free of contamination with cancer cells, and could induce life-long tolerance of donor organ or tissue transplants. I. L. Weissman, “Translating Stem and Progenitor Cell Biology to the Clinic: Barriers and Opportunities,”
Science,
287, 1442-1446 (2000). Transplantation of islet stem cells could replace insulin therapy; skeletal muscle stem cell transplants could treat patients with life-threatening muscle loss, such as can occur with muscular dystrophy; and transplantation of heart muscle stem cells could be used to regenerate heart muscle ravaged by myocardial infarction. Id. There are many more important uses, but one must first have the starting material—the stem cells that make these uses possible—before they may be investigated and applied. The invention described herein is the first to provide that starting material.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4714680 (1987-12-01), Civin
patent: 4965204 (1990-10-01), Civin
patent: 5035994 (1991-07-01), Civin
patent: 5130144 (1992-07-01), Civin
patent: 5166065 (1992-11-01), Williams et al.
patent: 5429938 (1995-07-01), Humes
patent: 5436151 (1995-07-01), McGlave et al.
patent: 5437994 (1995-08-01), Emerson et al.
patent: 5449620 (1995-09-01), Khillan
patent: 5556783 (1996-09-01), Lavker et al.
patent: 5589376 (1996-12-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5643741 (1997-07-01), Tsukamoto et al.
patent: 5646043 (1997-07-01), Emerson et al.
patent: 5654183 (1997-08-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5665557 (1997-09-01), Murray et al.
patent: 5670351 (1997-09-01), Emerson et al.
patent: 5672499 (1997-09-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5677136 (1997-10-01), Simmons et al.
patent: 5681559 (1997-10-01), DiGiusto et al.
patent: 5693482 (1997-12-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5728581 (1998-03-01), Schwartz et al.
patent: 5753506 (1998-05-01), Johe
patent: 5772994 (1998-06-01), Ildstad et al.
patent: 5806529 (1998-09-01), Reisner et al.
patent: 5824489 (1998-10-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5843780 (1998-12-01), Thomson
patent: 5849553 (1998-12-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5912133 (1999-06-01), Lemischka
patent: 5928947 (1999-07-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5965436 (1999-10-01), Thiede et al.
patent: 5968829 (1999-10-01), Carpenter
patent: 6040180 (2000-03-01), Johe
patent: 6090622 (2000-07-01), Gearhart et al.
patent: 6140116 (2000-10-01), Dinsmore
patent: 6200806 (2001-03-01), Thomson
patent: 6204053 (2001-03-01), Dinsmore
patent: 0695351 (1999-08-01), None
patent: 11017624 (1999-01-01), None
Thomson, J.A. et al. Embryonic Stem Cell Lines Derived from Human Blastocysts. Science 1998, 282:1145-1147.*
Roit, I. et al. Immunology. C.V. Mosby Company, Ltd. 1987, pp. 4.10-4.11.*
D. Van Der Kooy et al., “Why Stem Cells?”Science, vol. 287, pp. 1439-1441 (Feb. 25, 2000).
V. Rukshin et al., “Intravenous Magnesium in Experimental Stent Thrombosis in Swine,”Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, vol. 21, No. 9, pp. 1544-1549 (Sep. 1, 2001).
S. D. Gertz et al., “Effect of Magnesium Sulfate on Thrombus Formation Following Partial Arterial Constriction: Implications for Coronary Vasospasm,”Magnesium, vol. 6, No. 5, pp. 225-235 (1987).
H-D Claus, “Zur Frage der Wirksamkeit einer Thromboembolieprophylaxe durch Magnesium bei der Kontakttherapie von Portio- und Korpuskarzinomen der Uterus mit Gammastrahlern,”Strahlentherapie, vol. 135, No. 3, pp. 291-294 (Mar. 1968).
H.B. Ravn et al., “Magnesium Inhibits Platelet Activity-an Infusion Study in Healthy Volunteers,”Thrombosis and Haemostasis, vol. 75, No. 6, pp. 939-944 (Jun. 1
Arnaout Walid
Avital Itzhak
Inderbitzin Daniel
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Crouch Deborah
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
Ton Thai-an N.
LandOfFree
Method for the isolation of stem cells by immuno-labeling... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method for the isolation of stem cells by immuno-labeling..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for the isolation of stem cells by immuno-labeling... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3296656