Abstract: The present invention relates to preparations of induced pluripotent cell-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, and methods of making, isolating, and using these preparations.

Abstract: The present application relates to a non-human mammal model of a human neurodegenerative disorder, methods of producing the non-human mammal model, and methods of using the non-human mammal model to identify agents suitable for treating a neurodegenerative disorder. The present application also relates to methods of treating neurodegenerative disorders and restoring normal brain interstitial potassium levels.

Abstract: The present application relates to a non-human mammal model of a human neurodegenerative disorder, methods of producing the non-human mammal model, and methods of using the non-human mammal model to identify agents suitable for treating a neurodegenerative disorder. The present application also relates to methods of treating neurodegenerative disorders and restoring normal brain interstitial potassium levels.

Abstract: One form of the present invention is directed to a method of remyelinating demyelinated axons by treating the demyelinated axons with oligodendrocyte progenitor cells under conditions which permit remyelination of the axons. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of treating a subject having a condition mediated by a loss of myelin or a loss of oligodendrocytes by administering to the subject oligodendrocyte progenitor cells under conditions effective to treat the condition mediated by a loss of myelin or a loss of oligodendrocytes. A further aspect of the present invention relates to an in vitro method of identifying and separating oligodendrocyte progenitor cells from a mixed population containing other mammalian brain or spinal cord cell types.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of modulating production of neurons and/or oligodendrocytes from neural progenitor cells of human white matter and to a method of treating a subject for a condition modulated by underproduction of oligodendrocytes from human white matter. Both of these methods involve administering an agonist or antagonist of one or more molecules set forth in Tables 1 and/or 2 to the neural progenitor cells. Also disclosed is a method of using an inhibitor of sterol synthesis to differentiate oligodendrocyte progenitor cells to oligodendrocytes.

Abstract: The present application relates to a non-human mammal model of a human neurodegenerative disorder, methods of producing the non-human mammal model, and methods of using the non-human mammal model to identify agents suitable for treating a neurodegenerative disorder. The present application also relates to methods of treating neurodegenerative disorders and restoring normal brain interstitial potassium levels.

Abstract: One form of the present invention is directed to a method of remyelinating demyelinated axons by treating the demyelinated axons with oligodendrocyte progenitor cells under conditions which permit remyelination of the axons. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of treating a subject having a condition mediated by a loss of myelin or a loss of oligodendrocytes by administering to the subject oligodendrocyte progenitor cells under conditions effective to treat the condition mediated by a loss of myelin or a loss of oligodendrocytes. A further aspect of the present invention relates to an in vitro method of identifying and separating oligodendrocyte progenitor cells from a mixed population containing other mammalian brain or spinal cord cell types.

Abstract: One form of the present invention is directed to a method of remyelinating demyelinated axons by treating the demyelinated axons with oligodendrocyte progenitor cells under conditions which permit remyelination of the axons. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of treating a subject having a condition mediated by a loss of myelin or a loss of oligodendrocytes by administering to the subject oligodendrocyte progenitor cells under conditions effective to treat the condition mediated by a loss of myelin or a loss of oligodendrocytes. A further aspect of the present invention relates to an in vitro method of identifying and separating oligodendrocyte progenitor cells from a mixed population containing other mammalian brain or spinal cord cell types.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating glioma in a subject. The method comprises selecting a subject having a glioma, providing an inhibitor of binding between a PAR-1 receptor and a ligand of the PAR-1 receptor, and administering the inhibitor to the selected subject under conditions effective to treat the glioma and/or prevent spread of tumor cells. Methods for inhibiting proliferation of glioma cells and/or precursors thereof and a method of screening for compounds suitable for treating glioma in subjects are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to preparations of induced pluripotent cell-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, and methods of making, isolating, and using these preparations.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of assessing in vivo human glial cell response to pathogenic infection that involves providing a non-human mammal either with at least 30% of its glial cells in its corpus callosum being human glial cells and/or with at least 5% of its glial cells its brain and brain stem white matter being human glial cells, subjecting the non-human mammal to pathogenic infection and assessing the in vivo human glial cell response to pathogenic infection. A method of identifying therapeutic agents for the pathogenic infection as well as forms of the non-human mammal having a pathogenic brain infection are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of modulating production of neurons and/or oligodendrocytes from neural progenitor cells of human white matter and to a method of treating a subject for a condition modulated by underproduction of oligodendrocytes from human white matter. Both of these methods involve administering an agonist or antagonist of one or more molecules set forth in Tables 1 and/or 2 to the neural progenitor cells. Also disclosed is a method of using an inhibitor of sterol synthesis to differentiate oligodendrocyte progenitor cells to oligodendrocytes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of modulating production of neurons and/or oligodendrocytes from neural progenitor cells of human white matter and to a method of treating a subject for a condition modulated by underproduction of oligodendrocytes from human white matter. Both of these methods involve administering an agonist or antagonist of one or more molecules set forth in Tables 1 and/or 2 to the neural progenitor cells. Also disclosed is a method of using an inhibitor of sterol synthesis to differentiate oligodendrocyte progenitor cells to oligodendrocytes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of producing neuronal progenitor cells by providing an isolated population of progenitor cells from human brain white matter and permitting the isolated population of cells to differentiate to neuronal progenitor cells. Alternatively, neuronal progenitor cells can be produced by providing an isolated population of glial progenitor cells and permitting the isolated population of glial progenitor cells to differentiate to neuronal progenitor cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an enhancer which functions only in human brain and/or spinal cord motor neurons, where the enhancer comprises a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 10, or SEQ ID NO: 16. The enhancer can be utilized as part of a nucleic acid construct which also has a nucleic acid encoding a marker protein or a therapeutic protein, a 3? control region, and, optionally, a basal promoter, where these components are positioned with respect to one another to permit expression of the marker protein or the therapeutic protein. The enhancer of the present invention is useful in a method of isolating an enriched or purified population of motor neurons from a mixed population of human brain and/or spinal cells. In addition, the enhancer of the present invention can be used in a method of therapeutically targeting motor neurons.

Abstract: One form of the present invention is directed to a method of remyelinating demyelinated axons by treating the demyelinated axons with oligodendrocyte progenitor cells under conditions which permit remyelination of the axons. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of treating a subject having a condition mediated by a loss of myelin or a loss of oligodendrocytes by administering to the subject oligodendrocyte progenitor cells under conditions effective to treat the condition mediated by a loss of myelin or a loss of oligodendrocytes. A further aspect of the present invention relates to an in vitro method of identifying and separating oligodendrocyte progenitor cells from a mixed population containing other mammalian brain or spinal cord cell types.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of separating oligodendrocyte cells or progenitor cells thereof from a mixed population of cells. It comprises selecting a promoter which functions only in the oligodendrocyte cells or progenitor cells thereof, introducing a nucleic acid molecule encoding a fluorescent protein under control of that promoter into the mixed population cells, allowing the oligodendrocyte cells or progenitor cells thereof to express the fluorescent protein, and separating the fluorescent cells from the mixed population cells, where the separated cells are the oligodendrocyte cells or progenitor cells thereof. The invention also relates to the isolated and enriched human oligodendrocyte cells or progenitor cells thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of isolating an enriched or purified population of motor neurons from a population of embryonic stem cells. This method involves providing a population of embryonic stem cells and selecting a promoter or enhancer which functions only in the motor neurons selected. A nucleic acid molecule encoding a marker protein under control of the promoter or enhancer is introduced into the induced population of embryonic stem cells. The motor neurons are allowed to express the marker protein and, the cells expressed in the marker protein are separated from the population of embryonic stem cells. The population of embryonic stem cells can be induced to produce a mixed population of cells comprising motor neurons before or after a nucleic acid molecule encoding the marker protein under control of the promoter enhancer is introduced into the population of embryonic stem cells. As a result, an enriched or purified population of motor neurons is isolated.

Abstract: One form of the present invention is directed to a method of remyelinating demyelinated axons by treating the demyelinated axons with oligodendrocyte progenitor cells under conditions which permit remyelination of the axons. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of treating a subject having a condition mediated by a loss of myelin or a loss of oligodendrocytes by administering to the subject oligodendrocyte progenitor cells under conditions effective to treat the condition mediated by a loss of myelin or a loss of oligodendrocytes. A further aspect of the present invention relates to an in vitro method of identifying and separating oligodendrocyte progenitor cells from a mixed population containing other mammalian brain or spinal cord cell types. This further aspect of the present invention involves removing neurons and neuronal progenitor cells from the mixed population to produce a treated mixed population.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of treating a subject with acute spinal cord injury by administering a purine receptor antagonist to the subject under conditions effective to treat spinal cord injury. The purine receptor antagonist inhibits P2X purine receptor activation. The inhibition of P2X purine receptor activation can also be used in conjunction with methods of treating a subject with spinal cord ischemia resulting from stroke or vascular insult, interruption, or mechanical injury, treating a subject with ischemic or traumatic insults of brain tissue in regions expressing P2X receptors, and for inhibiting ATP-triggered brain or spinal cord cell death.