Abstract: A method for producing a neuroblast and a cellular composition comprising an enriched population of neuroblast cells is provided. Also disclosed are methods for identifying compositions which affect neuroblasts and for treating a subject with a neuronal disorder, and a culture system for the production and maintenance of neuroblasts.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for delivering a heterologous gene to a cell body of a neuron by contacting a muscle tissue innervated by the neuron with a viral vector comprising a heterologous gene, wherein the viral vector enters said neuron and is retrogradely moved to the cell body. Additionally, methods for expressing secreted proteins from a nerve cell body as well as methods for treating neurodegenerative disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are described.

Abstract: The invention relates to method(s) of use of the compound(s) described herein, e.g. method for stimulating neurogenesis, including in vitro neurogenesis, by contacting neuronal progenitor cells with an effective amount of the compound(s) described herein; method for treatment of a subject in need of treatment with a neurogenic compound; and/or for treatment of a disease or condition associated with damage to the hippocampus. The subject may be a human or a veterinary animal.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for delivering a heterologous gene to a cell body of a neuron by contacting a muscle tissue innervated by the neuron with a viral vector comprising a heterologous gene, wherein the viral vector enters said neuron and is retrogradely moved to the cell body. Additionally, methods for expressing secreted proteins from a nerve cell body as well as methods for treating neurodegenerative disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are described.

Abstract: The invention provides chimeric proteins having at least two functional protein units, each containing the dimerization domain of a member of the steroid/thyroid hormone nuclear receptor superfamily. The chimeric proteins can fold under crystallization conditions to form functional entities. The functional entities optionally contain a novel flexible peptide linker of variable lengths between at least two of the protein units. In a preferred embodiment, the linker is designed to be increased in increments of 12 amino acids each to aid in preparation of variant chimeric proteins. The DNA binding characteristics of the invention functional entities differ from those of wild-type complexes formed between “monomeric” receptors and their binding partners. Some functional entities, e.g. dimers expressed as fusion proteins, transactivate responsive promoters in a manner similar to wild-type complexes, while others do not promote transactivation and function instead essentially as constitutive repressors.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for transducing neurons with heterologous genes using retrograde viral transport. The methods disclosed employ substantially non-toxic vectors, such as adeno-associated virus vectors, that are capable of retrograde axonal transport to introduce and express genes in the neurons. This method has applications in the mapping of neural pathways, in stimulating or inhibiting the growth of neurons, and in the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that nuclear receptor proteins isolated from the silk moth bombyx mori (bR) are useful for the regulation of transgene expression. bR is generally thought to be a strong transcriptional regulator within cells of the silk moth. In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that bR is also functional in mammalian cells. It has further been discovered that the addition of activation domains to the bR open-reading frame enhances the activity of the ligand modulated regulator to afford high-level transcriptional induction. Further modifications to the bR ligand binding domain result in receptors with unique transactivational characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of repairing damaged or diseased, specialized or differentiated tissue in mature animals, particularly neuronal tissue such as retinas. In particular, the invention relates to transplantation of adult, hippocampus-derived progenitor cells into a selected neural tissue site of a recipient. These cells can functionally integrate into mature and immature neural tissue. The invention encompasses, in one aspect, repopulating a retina of a dystrophic animal with neurons, by injecting clonally derived, adult central nervous system derived stem cells (ACSC) derived from a healthy donor animal into an eye of the dystrophic recipient. Herein disclosed is the first successful and stable integration of clonally derived ACSC into same-species but different strain recipients (e. g., Fischer rat-derived adult hippocampal derived progenitor cells (AHPCs) into dystrophic RCS rats). Surprisingly, AHPCs were also found to integrate successfully into a xenogeneic recipient (e.g.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for modulating the expression of a target gene in a subject wherein a defined response element for a DNA binding domain modulates expression of said target gene. The invention system comprises two chimeric proteins, each containing the dimerization domain of a member of the steroid/thyroid hormone nuclear receptor superfamily, one of which is non-endogenous to the subject. In addition, the first chimeric protein contains a DNA binding domain to which the target gene is responsive and the second chimeric protein contains a transcription modulating domain, such as a transcription activator or a transcription repressor. In one embodiment of the invention, two invention systems form a dimer having the properties of a native heterodimer or homodimer. In another embodiment, only the first chimeric protein contains a DNA binding domain and only the second chimeric protein contains a transcription activating domain.

Abstract: Conditionally-immortalized human CNS progenitor cell lines are provided. Such cell lines, which may be clonal, may be used to generate neurons and/or astrocytes. Such cell lines and/or differentiated cells may be used for the development of therapeutic agents to prevent and treat a variety of CNS-related diseases. Such cell lines and/or differentiated cells may also be used in assays and for the general study of CNS cell development, death and abnormalities.

Abstract: A method for producing a neuroblast and a cellular composition comprising an enriched population of neuroblast cells is provided. Also disclosed are methods for identifying compositions which affect neuroblasts and for treating a subject with a neuronal disorder, and a culture system for the production and maintenance of neuroblasts.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of transferring therapeutic genes to brain tumor cells in order to kill the cells.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of transferring therapeutic genes to brain tumor cells in order to kill the cells.

Abstract: A method for producing a neuroblast and a cellular composition comprising an enriched population of neuroblast cells is provided. Also disclosed are methods for identifying compositions which affect neuroblasts and for treating a subject with a neuronal disorder, and a culture system for the production and maintenance of neuroblasts.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for transducing neurons with heterologous genes using retrograde viral transport. The methods disclosed employ substantially non-toxic vectors, such as adeno-associated virus vectors, that are capable of retrograde axonal transport to introduce and express genes in the neurons. This method has applications in the mapping of neural pathways, in stimulating or inhibiting the growth of neurons, and in the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for delivering a heterologous gene to a cell body of a neuron by contacting a muscle tissue innervated by the neuron with a viral vector comprising a heterologous gene, wherein the viral vector enters said neuron and is retrogradely moved to the cell body. Additionally, methods for expressing secreted proteins from a nerve cell body as well as methods for treating neurodegenerative disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are described.

Abstract: Disclosed are optimized methodologies for isolating and propagating stem cells from biopsies and postmortem tissues. Specifically disclosed are methods of culturing neural stem cells in the presence of a cocktail of trophic factors/co-factors for enhanced propagation.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that nuclear receptor proteins isolated from the silk moth bombyx mori (bR) are useful for the regulation of transgene expression. bR is generally thought to be a strong transcriptional regulator within cells of the silk moth. In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that bR is also functional in mammalian cells. It has further been discovered that the addition of activation domains to the bR open-reading frame enhances the activity of the ligand modulated regulator to afford high-level transcriptional induction. Further modifications to the bR ligand binding domain result in receptors with unique transactivational characteristics.

Abstract: A method for producing a neuroblast and a cellular composition comprising an enriched population of neuroblast cells is provided. Also disclosed are methods for identifying compositions which affect neuroblasts and for treating a subject with a neuronal disorder, and a culture system for the production and maintenance of neuroblasts.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery of genes which encode polypeptides are FGF-2 regulators of transcription (RFT). RFT-A, a negative regulator of transcription and RFT-A′ and RFT-B, positive regulators of FGF-2 traniscriptionl are provided. Also included are methods for diagnosis of prognosis for a subject having or at risk of having a disorder associated with FGF-2 and for treatment of cell proliferative disorders associated with FGF-2. Screening methods for identifying a compound which affects RTT-A polypeptide or a variant of RFT-A polypeptide and for identifying proteins that bind to RFT-A polypeptide or a variant of RFT-A are also provided.