Abstract: Disclosed are cellular compositions, grafts and pharmaceutical products made from bone marrow (BM) cells useful for a wide array of cell-based therapies for diseases and disorders of the nervous system. Transgenic cells in accord with the invention express therapeutic or reporter genes encoded in viral vectors. The cells are capable of extensive expansion in vitro and can generate neurons and glial cells both in culture and in vivo. Upon administration to a nervous system tissue or site in a host subject, the cells can migrate to appropriate target sites and can assimilate therein, differentiating into both neurons and astrocytes without evidence of fusion with endogenous cells of the host nervous tissue. The cells can express an array of therapeutic gene products suitable for treatment of nervous system disorders. Particularly preferred for neurodegenerative disease applications are transgenic BM-derived neurogenic cells expressing neurotrophic factors.

Abstract: Using a novel culture approach, previously unknown populations of neural progenitor cells have been found within an adult mammalian brain. By limiting cell-cell contact, dissociated adult brain yields at least two types of cell aggregates. These aggregates or clones of stem/precursor cells can be generated from adult brain tissue with significantly long postmortem intervals. Both neurons and glia arise from stem/precursor cells of these cultures, and the cells can survive transplantation to the adult mammalian brain.