[go: up one dir, main page]

WO2019023793A1 - Génération de cellules progénitrices de neurones oligodendrogéniques - Google Patents

Génération de cellules progénitrices de neurones oligodendrogéniques Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2019023793A1
WO2019023793A1 PCT/CA2018/050926 CA2018050926W WO2019023793A1 WO 2019023793 A1 WO2019023793 A1 WO 2019023793A1 CA 2018050926 W CA2018050926 W CA 2018050926W WO 2019023793 A1 WO2019023793 A1 WO 2019023793A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
npcs
days
cells
agonist
optionally
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/CA2018/050926
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Michael G. FEHLINGS
Mohamad KHAZAEI
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
University Health Network
Original Assignee
University Health Network
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from CA3006897A external-priority patent/CA3006897A1/fr
Application filed by University Health Network filed Critical University Health Network
Priority to EP18842008.7A priority Critical patent/EP3662058B1/fr
Priority to CA3071893A priority patent/CA3071893A1/fr
Priority to DK18842008.7T priority patent/DK3662058T3/da
Priority to US16/636,153 priority patent/US11859206B2/en
Priority to ES18842008T priority patent/ES2989792T3/es
Publication of WO2019023793A1 publication Critical patent/WO2019023793A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
    • A61P25/28—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system for treating neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system, e.g. nootropic agents, cognition enhancers, drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K35/00—Medicinal preparations containing materials or reaction products thereof with undetermined constitution
    • A61K35/12—Materials from mammals; Compositions comprising non-specified tissues or cells; Compositions comprising non-embryonic stem cells; Genetically modified cells
    • A61K35/48—Reproductive organs
    • A61K35/54—Ovaries; Ova; Ovules; Embryos; Foetal cells; Germ cells
    • A61K35/545—Embryonic stem cells; Pluripotent stem cells; Induced pluripotent stem cells; Uncharacterised stem cells
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P35/00—Antineoplastic agents
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N5/00—Undifferentiated human, animal or plant cells, e.g. cell lines; Tissues; Cultivation or maintenance thereof; Culture media therefor
    • C12N5/06—Animal cells or tissues; Human cells or tissues
    • C12N5/0602—Vertebrate cells
    • C12N5/0618—Cells of the nervous system
    • C12N5/0622—Glial cells, e.g. astrocytes, oligodendrocytes; Schwann cells
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2500/00—Specific components of cell culture medium
    • C12N2500/30—Organic components
    • C12N2500/38—Vitamins
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2501/00—Active agents used in cell culture processes, e.g. differentation
    • C12N2501/10—Growth factors
    • C12N2501/11—Epidermal growth factor [EGF]
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2501/00—Active agents used in cell culture processes, e.g. differentation
    • C12N2501/10—Growth factors
    • C12N2501/115—Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF, FGF-2)
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2501/00—Active agents used in cell culture processes, e.g. differentation
    • C12N2501/10—Growth factors
    • C12N2501/135—Platelet-derived growth factor [PDGF]
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2501/00—Active agents used in cell culture processes, e.g. differentation
    • C12N2501/10—Growth factors
    • C12N2501/15—Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2501/00—Active agents used in cell culture processes, e.g. differentation
    • C12N2501/10—Growth factors
    • C12N2501/155—Bone morphogenic proteins [BMP]; Osteogenins; Osteogenic factor; Bone inducing factor
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2501/00—Active agents used in cell culture processes, e.g. differentation
    • C12N2501/30—Hormones
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2501/00—Active agents used in cell culture processes, e.g. differentation
    • C12N2501/30—Hormones
    • C12N2501/38—Hormones with nuclear receptors
    • C12N2501/385—Hormones with nuclear receptors of the family of the retinoic acid recptor, e.g. RAR, RXR; Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor [PPAR]
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2501/00—Active agents used in cell culture processes, e.g. differentation
    • C12N2501/40—Regulators of development
    • C12N2501/41—Hedgehog proteins; Cyclopamine (inhibitor)
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2501/00—Active agents used in cell culture processes, e.g. differentation
    • C12N2501/70—Enzymes
    • C12N2501/72—Transferases [EC 2.]
    • C12N2501/727—Kinases (EC 2.7.)
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2506/00—Differentiation of animal cells from one lineage to another; Differentiation of pluripotent cells
    • C12N2506/45—Differentiation of animal cells from one lineage to another; Differentiation of pluripotent cells from artificially induced pluripotent stem cells
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2533/00—Supports or coatings for cell culture, characterised by material
    • C12N2533/90—Substrates of biological origin, e.g. extracellular matrix, decellularised tissue

Definitions

  • the disclosure relates to methods and compositions for the generation of oligodendrogenic neural progenitor cells (o-NPCs) from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs).
  • o-NPCs oligodendrogenic neural progenitor cells
  • hiPSCs human induced pluripotent stem cells
  • Transplantation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural precursor cells represents an exciting approach to regenerate the central nervous system (CNS) after insult such as trauma, e.g., traumatic brain injury; traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI); autoimmune disease, e.g., multiple sclerosis (MS); amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; degeneration, e.g., Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease; and a plethora of other illnesses (Ahuja & Fehlings, 2016; Plaisted et al., 2016; Skop, Calderon, Cho, Vogel, & Levison, 2016; arriveberger, Ahuja, Liu, Wang, & Fehlings, 2016).
  • trauma e.g., traumatic brain injury; traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI); autoimmune disease, e.g., multiple sclerosis (MS); amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; degeneration, e.g., Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease; and a plethor
  • tripotent hiPS-NPCs which have the ability to differentiate into oligodendrocytes, neurons, and astrocytes remain a viable strategy, however, it may be desirable to bias differentiation towards an oligodendrocyte lineage to enhance regeneration of myelin and promote sensorimotor recovery (Ahuja, Martin, & Fehlings, 2016; Hawryluk et al., 2014; Papastefanaki & Matsas, 2015).
  • An aspect of the disclosure includes a method of producing oligodendrogenic neural progenitor cells (o-NPCs), the method comprising:
  • ventralized neural progenitor cells the ventralized NPCs expressing Sox2, Nkx6-1 , decreased level of Pax6 compared to unpatterned NPCs, and elevated expression of HoxA4 compared to unpatterned NPCs;
  • NEM neural expansion media
  • the NEM of steps b) i) and ii) is also supplemented with an FGF receptor (FGFR agonist), optionally FGF2.
  • FGF receptor FGFR agonist
  • the o-NPCs produced are biased to differentiation towards oligodendrocytes, and optionally produce at least 30% oligodendrocytes when differentiated.
  • the ventralized NPCs are obtained from unpatterned NPCs, optionally by culturing unpatterned NPCs expressing Sox2+, Pax6+ and Otx2+ for about 12 days in NEM supplemented with i) retinoic acid and/or a retinoic acid analogue, optionally synthetic retinoid EC23 for the preliminary about 7 to 1 1 days, optionally about 9 days, and ii) a sonic hedgehog (Shh) agonist for the latter about 6 to about 12 days or until Otx2 expression is lost or decreased by at least 3 folds (log2 scale) and/or HoxA4 expression is gained or increased by at least 3 folds (log2 scale) compared to the unpatterned NPCs.
  • retinoic acid and/or a retinoic acid analogue optionally synthetic retinoid EC23 for the preliminary about 7 to 1 1 days, optionally about 9 days
  • a sonic hedgehog (Shh) agonist for the latter about 6 to about 12
  • the Ssh agonist is selected from purmorphamine, smoothened agonist (SAG) and recombinant Shh polypeptide.
  • the unpatterned NPCs are cultured in NEM supplemented with EGF for the preliminary about 7 to 1 1 days of the about 12 day culture and cultured in NEM supplemented with FGFR agonist, optionally FGF2 and lacking RA receptor (RAR) agonist, such as RA for a latter about 3 days of the about 12 day culture.
  • FGFR agonist optionally FGF2 and lacking RA receptor (RAR) agonist, such as RA for a latter about 3 days of the about 12 day culture.
  • RAR RA receptor
  • the unpatterned NPCs are obtained by culturing columnar cells that are in the form of rosettes and which express Pax6, in NIM supplemented with EGF receptor (EGFR) agonist, optionally EGF or betacelluin.
  • EGFR EGF receptor
  • the columnar cells that are in the form of rosettes are obtained by culturing iPSCs in neural induction media (NIM) for about 8 to about 10 days.
  • NIM neural induction media
  • the columnar cells are cultured in a vessel coated with a gelatinous matrix.
  • Also provided in another aspect is a method of producing o-NPCs, the method comprising:
  • iPSCs cultured for at least about 2 days in vessels comprising a gelatinous matrix with an induced pluripotent cell media/embryonic cell media supplemented with a ROCK inhibitor culturing the iPSCs:
  • iPSCs are cultured in vessels coated with a gelatinous matrix comprising ploy-L- lysine/laminin for about 1 to 2 days to produce columnar cells in the form of rosettes expressing Pax 6;
  • step b culturing the columnar cells in the form of rosettes from step b. in NEM comprising EGFR agonist, FGFR agonist, B27 supplement or equivalent lacking vitamin A and N2 supplement for about 4 days, wherein the iPSCs are cultured in vessels coated with a gelatinous matrix comprising ploy-L- lysine/laminin, to produce upatterned NPCs;
  • NPCs e) culturing the unpatterned NPCs from step c) for about 6 days in NEM comprising retinoic acid, N2 supplement, B27 supplement or equivalent, EGF agonist and a Shh agonist to produce caudalized NPCs;
  • NEM NEM comprising EGFR agonist, N2 supplement, B27 supplement or equivalent, RAR agonist, optionally retinoic acid and Shh agonist for about 3 days (days 20 to 23 of Fig. 6);
  • NEM NEM comprising FGFR agonist, optionally FGF2, N2 supplement, B27 supplement or equivalent and a Shh agonist for about 3 days (days 23 to 26 of Fig. 6) to obtain ventralized NPCs;
  • culturing the ventralized NPCs for about 12 to about 16 days in NEM comprising i) PDGFR agonist for the about 12 to about 16 days; ii) B27 supplement or equivalent and N1 supplement for the preliminary about 12 days; and iii)thyroxine or a thyroxine analogue for the latter about 7 to about 9 days, to produce o-NPCs.
  • the iPSCs are hiPSCs.
  • the hiPSCs are a cell line.
  • thyroxine analogue is selected from thyroxine, levothyroxine sodium hydrate and triiodothyronine/thyroid hormone 3 (T3).
  • a further aspect includes a tripotent cell population produced according to the method described herein comprising at least or about50%, at least or about 60%, at least or about 70%, at least or about 80%, at least or 90%, optionally about 50% to about 95% or about 90% to about 95% o-NPCs based on immunocytochemical Olig2 staining and a carrier, optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
  • the o-NPCs have been passaged 2, 3, 4 5 or 6 passages.
  • the method further comprises differentiating the oNPCs to obtain a differentiated population enriched for oligodendrocyte lineage cells, optionally Olig2+ immature and GST-pi+ mature oligodendrocytes.
  • the step of differentiating the oNPCs comprises culturing oNPCs in NEM lacking FGFR agonist/EGFR agonist, optionally FGF2/EGF to produce a radial glial cell 3CB2 enriched population of cells.
  • the oNPCs are on vessels coated with spinal cord homogenate, optionally injured or naive spinal cord homogenate.
  • a cell population comprising oligodendrocytes produced according to the method described herein and a carrier, optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
  • the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is a culture media, optionally GMP grade or sterile.
  • the culture media is NEM.
  • a further aspect is use of a cell population of described herein to treat a subject with a spinal cord injury or demyelination disease.
  • the spinal injury is a cervical or thoracic spinal cord injury, optionally acute or chronic.
  • the demyelination disease is MS or CP.
  • Fig. 1 Overview of the generation of o-NPCs from hiPSCs using this 40 day protocol.
  • o-NPCs oligodendrogenic neural progenitor cells
  • hiPSCs human induced pluripotent stem cells.
  • hiPSC-NPCs human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural precursor cells
  • hiPSC-o-NPCs human induced pluripotent stem cell-oligodendrogenic neural progenitor cells.
  • Fig. 3 Example of daily culture conditions for differentiation of NPCs from hiPSCs.
  • Monolayer cells can be treated with dual SMAD inhibitors for 7-8 days. At the end of this step, neuro ectodermal rosettes emerge. Cells can be passaged every 3-4 days and replatedat the density of 250,000 cells/cm 2 . For the first 24 hr after each passage, cells can be supplemented with ROCK inhibitor.
  • NPCs neural progenitor cells
  • hiPSCs human induced pluripotent stem cells.
  • Fig. 4 Two key pathways have been proposed for generation of oligodendrogenic NPCs: (1) the canonical pathway which is dependent on sonic hedgehog (Shh) and is mainly used for generation of spinal oligodendrocytes and (2) the non-canonical pathway which is Shh independent and requires FGF2 to generate forebrain oligodendrocytes.
  • Shh sonic hedgehog
  • NPCs are mainly differentiated to neurons and astrocytes after removal of growth factors FGF2 and EGF, however, o-NPCs are biased towards an oligodendrocytic fate and predominantly differentiate to oligodendrocytes.
  • NPCs neural progenitor cells; o- NPCs, oligodendrogenic neural progenitor cells.
  • NPCs neural progenitor cells
  • RA retinoic acid
  • Shh sonic hedgehog
  • Fig. 7 Culture conditions from days 26 to 40; the last step for the generation of o-NPCs is supplementation with PDGF-AA and thyroxine.
  • o-NPCs oligodendrogenic neural progenitor cells.
  • Fig. 8A Overview of the generation of o-NPCs from hiPSCs-NPCs.
  • Fig. 8B Changes in the gene expression profile of key transcription factors during generation of o-NPCs from un-patterned NPCs.
  • Fig. 8C Changes in the morphology of un-patterned NPCs to bi-polar morphology of o-NPCs cultured on laminin.
  • Fig. 8D o-NPCs have the potential to be differentiated to all three different cell types; neurons ( ⁇ - ⁇ Tub), astrocytes (GFAP) and oligodendrocytes (CNPase).
  • Fig. 8E q-RT-PCR gene expression analysis of o-NPCs as it compared to hiPSCS.
  • Fig. 8F Differentiation profile of o-NPCs. Majority of o-NPCs differentiating towards oligodendrocytes.
  • Fig. 9A Transplanted cells differentiate to express markers of mature oligodendrocytes (APC), immature oligodendrocytes (Olig2), astrocytes (GFAP) and neurons (TUJ1 and NeuN) in o-NPCs and unpatterned NPCs.
  • APC mature oligodendrocytes
  • Olig2 immature oligodendrocytes
  • GFAP astrocytes
  • TUJ1 and NeuN neurons
  • Fig. 10 A-D Generation of oligodendrogenic NPCs.
  • A The gene expression pattern of rostral and caudal identity markers compared between human iPSC-NPCs, unpatterned NPCs, fetal cortical NPCs and fetal spinal NPCs. Hierarchical clustering trees reveal a strong similarity between human iPSC-NPCs, unpatterned NPCs and fetal cortical NPCs while fetal spinal NPCs demonstrated caudal identity.
  • RA retinoic acid
  • (C) Gradual changes in the morphology of NPCs after patterning towards oNPCs with elongated mono- and bi-polar morphology. These representative micrographs are from unpatterned NPC derived cells.
  • (D) Stepwise changes in the expression profile of NPCs during generation of oNPCs.
  • the expression of transcription factor Otx2 an important marker of brain identity, is reduced in caudalized NPCs and they gain the expression of HoxA4, a marker of spinal identity in ventralized NPCs (vNPCs).
  • the expression of bHLH transcription factors Nkx2.2, Olig2 and Nkx6.1 is upregulated in oNPC stage.
  • FIG. 11 A-C In vitro differentiation profile of oNPCs.
  • A Both unpatterned NPC and oNPCs demonstrated comparable expression of neural progenitor markers, Pax6, Sox2 and nestin.
  • B, C Comparison of the differentiation profile of unpatterned NPC and oNPCs after removal of the growth factors EGF, FGF2 and addition of 0.1% FBS. These results and representative micrographs belong to drNPC derived cells. Results are presented as mean ⁇ SEM from three independent experiments (average of 10 random fields in each group). *p ⁇ 0.05, **p ⁇ 0.01 , Student's t test. Scale bar: 20 ⁇ .
  • FIG. 12 A-E oNPCs predominantly differentiated into oligo-lineage cells, and myelinated host axons.
  • A-D Representative images of Olig2+/HuN+ immature (A) and GST- pi+/HuN+ mature (B) oligodendrocytes (arrowheads). Cytoplasm of the transplanted Stem121 + cells co-localized with MBP (C; arrowheads), and there were MBP+/Stem121 + mature oligodendrocytes myelinating host NF 200+ neuronal axons (D; arrowheads). These cells mainly existed in the white matter area of the spinal cord.
  • E-l Representative images of immunoelectron microscopy in oNPCs (E-G), NPC (H) and vehicle groups (I). Grafted cells were detected by the black dots observed upon anti-Stem121 antibody staining. At higher magnifications in the oNPC group, remyelinated axons surrounded by transplanted cells were identified (F) and endogenous myelin from oligodendrocytes were preserved (G). Arrowheads and arrows indicate myelin derived from transplanted cells and endogenous cells, respectively. Scale bar: 10 ⁇ in (A-D), 2 ⁇ in (E, H, I), and 200 nm in (F, G).
  • FIG. 13 A-C in vitro oNPCs differentiation assay with or without CSPGs.
  • oNPCs Chodroitin Sulfate ProteoGlycan
  • oNPCs cultured on dishes coated with spinal cord homogenates from uninjured (Naive-h) or SCI-lesioned animals (SCI-h) for a week.
  • A Cells were fixed and stained for the neural progenitor cell marker (Nestin), radial glial cell marker (3CB2; cytoplasmic projection stained), oligodendrocyte marker (01), astrocyte marker (GFAP) or neuronal marker ( ⁇ tubulin).
  • FIG. 14 A-E Functional analysis following cell transplantation.
  • A Time course of motor functional recovery of hindlimbs in BBB score. Rats with oNPCs transplantation showed significant recovery from 7 to 9 weeks after SCI.
  • B Representative images of gait analysis with CatWalk system 9 weeks after SCI. Light and dark footprints indicate right and left hindlimbs, respectively.
  • C,D Gait analysis with the CatWalk system. Note that there was significantly better recovery in stride length between the oNPC and vehicle groups, and swing speed in the oNPC group compared to the other groups.
  • E Evaluation of thermal allodynia in the tail-flick test. In each test, 10 rats per each group were examined. *p ⁇ 0.05; **p ⁇ 0.01.
  • Fig. 15 Levels of BMP4, TGF- ⁇ and Jaggedl detected in the cervical spinal cord at two weeks post-injury.
  • a cell includes a single cell as well as a plurality or population of cells.
  • nomenclatures utilized in connection with, and techniques of, cell and tissue culture, molecular biology, and protein and oligonucleotide or polynucleotide chemistry and hybridization described herein are those well-known and commonly used in the art (see, e.g. Green and Sambrook, 2012).
  • NPCs neural precursor cells
  • OPCs early stage oligodendrocyte precursor cells
  • motor neurons share a developmental lineage in the spinal cord.
  • Goldman and colleagues have described a method for generating OPCs from hiPSCs, however, the greatest drawback of their protocol is the lengthy culture time requiring proportionally greater quantities of expensive growth factors (Wang et al., 2013).
  • o-NPCs a cell type biased to produce oligodendrocytes
  • o-NPCs generated using the present methods are tripotent cells and have the ability to differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, however, o-NPCs have a bias to differentiate predominantly into oligodendrocytes, both in vitro and in vivo.
  • the methods described herein have been found to increase oligodendrocyte production by at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60% or at least 65% in vitro.
  • spinal cord injury e.g.
  • the methods described herein have been found to increase oligodendrocyte production by at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55% or at least 60% compared to conventionally prepared NPCs.
  • an aspect of the present disclosure includes a method of producing oligodendrogenic neural progenitor cells (o-NPCs), the method comprising:
  • ventralized neural progenitor cells obtaining ventralized neural progenitor cells (NPCs), the ventralized NPCs expressing Sox2 and NKx6.1 and decreased level of Pax6 compared to unpattenred NPCs and increased expression of HoxA4 compared ot unpatterned NPCs.
  • NEM neural expansion media
  • PDGFR PDGF receptor
  • thyroxine or a thyroxine analog for the latter about 7 to about 9 days
  • ventralized NPCs refers to NPCs which express
  • Sox2 and Nestin have decreased expression of Pax6, FoxG1 , Otx2 and Gbx2, and have increased expression of Nkx6.1 , HoxA4, HoxB4 HoxC4 and HoxC5, all relative to un- patterned-NPCs.
  • such cells can have at leat 20% decreased expression of Pax6, at least 75% decreased level of expression for FoxG1 , Otx2 and Gbx2, at least 50% increased expression Nkx6.1 , and have at least 50% increased expression of HoxA4, HoxB4 HoxC4 and HoxC5, all relative to unpatterned-NPCs.
  • the expression level of Olig2 and Nkx2.2 is less than the expression of these genes compared to o-NPCs, for example ventralized NPCs typically express at least 25% less protein and at least about 2 fold or at least about 3 fold (Log2 scale) less RNA, determined for example by density of immune staining and qRT-PCR respectively, than the expression level of these two genes compared to o-NPCs.
  • Olig2 refers to oligodendrocyte transcription factor
  • Nkx2.2 and Nkx6.1 refer to homeobox proteins Nkx2.2 and Nkx6.1 and Sox2 also known as SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 2 which is a marker of neural stem progenitor cells (NSPCs).
  • Sox2 along with Pax6 and Nestin are three main markers for NSPCs.
  • Pax6 refers to paired box protein Pax6.
  • HoxA4, HoxB4, HoxC4 and HoxC5 refer to homebox proteins A4, B4, C4 and C5 respectively.
  • FoxG1 refers to forkhead box protein G1.
  • Otx2 and Gbx2 refer to homebox proteins Otx2 and Gbx2 respectively.
  • NPCs that have not been caudalized and express Sox2/Pax6 and Otx2 (increased relative to NPC rosettes from which they can be derived). As shown in Fig. 1 , they can be obtained at about 14 days using a protocol described herein.
  • the unpatterned NPCs When the unpatterned NPCs are derived from hiPC cells they can be referred to as hiPS-derived unpatterned-NPCs hiPS-derived unpatterned-NPCs.
  • NPCs neural progenitor cells, interchangeably referred to as neural precursor cells and neural stem cells (NPS).
  • NPCs are tripotent cells with the potential to be differentiated to neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.
  • NPC express Pax6, Sox2 and Nestin as the main NPC markers.
  • Any line of hiPSCs or hESCs can be used that will generate NPCs. Further any line of hiPSCs or hESCs can be used that will generate NPCs. Further any line of hiPSCs or hESCs can be used that will generate NPCs. Further any line of hiPSCs or hESCs can be used that will generate NPCs. Further any line of hiPSCs or hESCs can be used that will generate NPCs. Further any line of hiPSCs or hESCs can be used that will generate NPCs. Further any line of hiPSCs or hESCs can be used that will generate NPCs. Further any line of hiPSCs or hESCs can be used that will generate NPCs. Further any line of hiPSCs or hESCs can be used that will generate NPCs. Further any line of hiPSCs or hESCs can be used that will generate NPCs. Further any line of hiPSCs or hESCs can be used that will generate NPCs. Further any
  • NPCs can be used. They can be dererived form different methods (e.g. dual SMAD inhibition, directly reprogrammed, default pathway, embryoid body and etc) from hiPSC or hECS or NPCs derived from human fetal or adult tissue can be used as long as the NPCs are tripotent, e.g. have the potential to be differentiated to neruons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.
  • dual SMAD inhibition directly reprogrammed, default pathway, embryoid body and etc
  • hiPSC or hECS or NPCs derived from human fetal or adult tissue can be used as long as the NPCs are tripotent, e.g. have the potential to be differentiated to neruons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.
  • Said cells should express Nestin, Sox2 and Pax6 and can have rostral identity (optional) (expressing Otx2 and/or FoxG1) or caudal identity (optional) (expressing any of the Hox genes such as HoxA4, and/or HoxB4 and/or Hox C4). Preferably they should not express any or detectable levels of HoxB9 and /or HB9.
  • neural progenitor cells such as DMEM/F12, Neuralbasal Media etc comprising one or more of sodium pyruvate, a glutamine product such as glutamine or GlutaMAXTM, one or more antibiotics such as penicillin and/or streptomycin, a supplement such as B27 supplment without vitamin A or equivalent (e.g. without RA or RA analogue) and depending on the stage of cell differentiation, one or more of an FGFR agonist such as FGF2, an EGFR agonist such as EGF and/or heparin.
  • An example of a suitable NEM is provided in Example 1.
  • the culture media will include non essential amino acids such as Glycine, L-Alanine, L-Asparagine, L-Aspartic acid, L-Glutamic Acid, L-Proline, L-Serine, glucose or equivalent, sodium pirovate, Catalase , Glutathione reduced, Insulin , Superoxide Dismutase , Holo-Transferin , Triiodothyronine (T3) , L-carnitine , Ethanolamine, D+-galactose, Putrescine, Sodium selenite, Corticosterone, Linoleic acid, Linolenic acid, Progesterone , Retinol acetate , DL-alpha tocopherol (vit E), DL-alpha tocopherol acetate , Oleic acid, Pipecolic acid, Biotin to which FGF receptor agonist, optionally FGF
  • B27 supplement refers to a serum free vitamin containing supplement that supports neurons and which is used with neuronal cell culture. Any such supplement that permits feeder layer independent growth can be used.
  • B27 supplement includes for example Catalase , Glutathione , Insulin , Superoxide Dismutase , Human Holo-Transferin , T3 , L-carnitine , Ethanolamine , D+-galactose , Putrescine , Sodium selenite , Corticosterone at , Linoleic acid , Linolenic acid , Progesterone at , Retinol acetate , DL-alpha tocopherol (vit E) , DL-alpha tocopherol acetate , Oleic acid , Pipecolic acid- , and Biotin.
  • the period of PDGFR agonist incubation including the combined PDGFR agonist/thyroxine PDGFR agonist/thyroxine analogue incubation is approximately 12 to 16 days and this corresponds generally to days 24 to 40 as shown in Fig. 7.
  • the days of culture will depend on the culture conditions used including for example the exact differentiation status of the starting population.
  • the o-NPCs (also referred to as oNPCs) produced show for example 10-20% increased level of expression of HoxA4, and HoxB4, 30-40% increased level of expression of Olig2 and a 10-20% decreased level of expression of Pax6 and Nkx6.1 compared to ventralized-NPCs.
  • These cells have spinal cord identity, meaning that the expression level of transcription factors which spatially are specific for spinal cord, like HoxA4, HoxB4, HoxC4 and HoxC5 which are for example at least 75% more than those in un-pattenerd NPCs, and do not express markers associated with brain identity cells. They are tripotent meaning that they have the potential to generate neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes but are biased to differentiation towards for example at least 50 % more oligodendrocytes compared to un- patterned NPCs.
  • o-NPCs unlike un-patterned-NPCs, are caudalized, ventralized and are oligogenic.
  • the different stages can for example be assessed by expression levels of one or more genes.
  • caudalized cells compared to un-patterned cells
  • have elevated levels of HoxA4, B4, C4 and C5 for example about around 50% more
  • endpoint stage in o-NPCs which have increased levels that are about or at least 75% higher.
  • Ventralized cells have a decrease in Pax6 expression (around 20-25%) and an increase in Nkx6.1 expression (around 25% or more) compared to to caudalized cells.
  • PDGFR agonist means any protein or small molecule that can activate the PDGF receptor A and/or PDGF receptor B (e.g. molecules that bind to PDFGR, induce the dimerization of the receptor and activate the signaling PI3K pathway and STAT1/3 pathways) including any members of the PDGF family such as PDGF- A, -B, -C and -D, and either homo- or heterodimers (e.g. PDGF-AA, -AB, -BB, -CC, -DD).
  • PDGF-AA, -AB, -BB, -CC, -DD homo- or heterodimers
  • PDGF analogues are known and include for example 740 Y-P (PDGFR 740Y-P).
  • the PDGF can be PDGF-AA, PDGF-AB, PDGF-BB and/or PDGF-CC.
  • the PDGF when used with human cells is human PDGF.
  • the PDGF is in an embodiment, PDGF-AA.
  • the NEM comprising PDGF- AA comprises about 20-30 ng/ml PDGF-AA.
  • Recombinant human PDGF-AA can be obtained from various commercial sources such as ProSpec Hamada St.
  • PDGF-AA from other mammalian sources such as mouse, rabbit, sheep or rat as mammalian PDGF shares a high degree of conservation (e.g. malian PDGF-A is conserved from 87-100%, B is 85% to 100 and C is 70% to 100 can be used interchangablly.
  • PDGF optionally PDGF- AA, is used as diffrerentiation factor for ventralized neural progenitor cells progressing towards an oligodendrogenic fate.
  • the NEM comprising thyroxine comprises about 40-60 ng/ml thyroxine.
  • a thyroxine analogue is used.
  • the thyroxine analogue is, in one embodiment, levothyroxine sodium hydrate, which can be used in the place of thyroxine.
  • the concentration of levothyroxine sodium hydrate is about 40 ng/mL.
  • the thyroxine analogue is triiodothyronine/thyroid hormone 3 (T3).
  • the concentration of triiodothyronine/thyroid hormone 3 (T3) is about 40 to about 60 ng/mL.
  • Thyroxine refers to the prohormone of the thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T3), including all mammalian forms preferably human. It is used in this method as a differentiating factor when ventralized neural progenitor cells are stimulated towards their oligodendrogenic fate. Thyroxine can be obtained from various commercial sources such as Sigma-Aldrich Canada Co. Oakville, Ontario Canada (e.g., Catalogue number T1775).
  • FIG. 7 a particular embodiment of the media, factors and time periods that can be used is provided.
  • NEM can be replaced daily with the required factors.
  • progenitor cell refers to cells that have a cellular phenotype that is at an earlier step along a developmental pathway or progression than is a fully differentiated cell relative to a cell which it can give rise to by differentiation.
  • Progenitor cells can give rise to multiple distinct differentiated cell types or to a single differentiated cell type, depending on the developmental pathway and on the environment in which the cells develop and differentiate.
  • differentiated is a relative term and a “differentiated cell” is a cell that has progressed further down the developmental pathway than the cell it is being compared with.
  • stem cells can differentiate to lineage- restricted precursor cells (such as a neural progenitor cell), which in turn can differentiate into other types of precursor cells further down the pathway and then to an end-stage differentiated cell, which plays a characteristic role in a certain tissue type, and may or may not retain the capacity to proliferate further.
  • the NEM the NEM of steps b. i) and ii) is supplemented with an FGFR agonist such as FGF2.
  • an FGFR agonist such as FGF2.
  • the NEM can comprise PDGFR agonist and FGFR agonist, optionally FGF2, for the duration of the incubation from ventralized NPCs to produce o-NPCs.
  • FGF receptor (FGFR) agonist means a molecule that can activate FGFR (e.g. molecules that bind to FGFR and induce the dimerization of the receptor and activate the signaling PI3K pathway and Ras/ERK pathway), including FGF2, FGF8 and SUN1 1602.
  • the FGFR agonist optionally FGF2 is added in some embodiments along with heparin.
  • Other components can also be included as described herein.
  • the NEM for culturing ventralized NPCs can comprise FGF2 (e.g. at about 10-20ng/ml), B27 supplement without RA (or equivalent such as vitamin A), heparin and N1 supplement.
  • Reference to "without vitamin A” also means without equivalents such as RA and "without RA” also means without equivalents such as vitamin A.
  • fibroblast growth factor 2 or "FGF2” (also known as bFGF, basicFGF or FGF-beta as well as heparin binding growth factor 2 is a member of the fibroblast growth factor family.
  • FGF2 for example human FGF-2 can be obtained from various commercial sources such as Cell Sciences. RTM., Canton, Mass., USA, Invitrogen Corporation products, Grand Island N.Y., USA, ProSpec-Tany TechnoGene Ltd. Rehovot, Israel, and Sigma, St Louis, Mo., USA.
  • FGF2 can be be replaced with other FGFR agonists such as FGF2 or FGF8.
  • FGFR agonists are described in US Patent Application 2015001 1579, titled FGF Receptor (FGFR) Agonist Dimeric Compounds, Process for the Preparation Thereof and Therapeutic Use Thereof.
  • ventralized NPCs are obtained by culturing unpatterned
  • This step includes producing caudalized NPCs from the unpatterned NPCs and differentiating them to ventralized NPCs as shown for example in Fig. 6.
  • the Shh agonist can be used for the latter 6 to 12 days depending on cells and
  • Shh activator used. When Shh is used, the time can be about 9 days.
  • the retinoic acid analogue can be for example synthetic retinoid EC23 or vitamin A.
  • caudalized NPCs refers to NPCs having a caudal spinal cord progenitor fate and which express Sox2, Pax6 and an increased expression of Nkx6.1 relative to un-patterned NPCs and a decreased expression of Otx2 and FoxG 1 relative to un-patterned NPCs.
  • “caudalized NPCs” express Sox2, Nestin and Pax6 with equivalent level to un-patterned NPCs, and have for example at least 75% decreased level of expression for FoxG 1 , Otx2 and Gbx2, at least 25% increased expression Nkx6.1 , and have at least 25-50% increased expression of HoxA4, HoxB4 HoxC4 and HoxC5, all relative to un- patterned-NPCs.
  • the expression level of Nkx6.1 is for example at least 25% less than the expression level this gene compared to ventralized-NPCs.
  • sonic hedgehog agonist or "Shh agonist” as used herein includes recombinant sonic hedgehog, purmorphamine and SAG, which stands for Smoothened Agonist and is a chlorobenzothiophene-containing compound.
  • Shh can also be replaced with recombinant mammalian Desert hedge hog (Dhh) or recombinant mammalian Indian hedge hog (Ihh). Activates Smoothened (SMO) can also be used.
  • the sonic hedgehog agonist used is selected from purmorphamine, SAG and recombinant Shh polypeptide.
  • the concentration used can be about 100ng/ml.
  • the concentration of purmorphamine is about 0.5 ⁇ to about 1 ⁇ purmorphamine.
  • the concentration of SAG is about 0,5 ⁇ SAG.
  • the concentration of Shh is about 100ng/ml Shh.
  • the method comprises obtaining caudalized NPCs from unpatterned NPCs expressing Sox27Pax6 + Otx2 + with retinoic acid (RA)(for example at a concentration of 0.1 ⁇ -0.2 ⁇ ) and/or a retinoic acid analogue and using caudalized NPCs to produce the ventralized NPCs.
  • RA retinoic acid
  • Unpatterned NPCs refers to NPCs that have yet to be caudalized and ventralized.
  • Un-partnered NPCs are primitive or definitive NPCs which are not yet being treated with any patterning factors like RA or Shh (and its agonists).
  • Un- patterned NPCs express Pax6, Nestin and Sox2.
  • the level of expression of Gbx2, Emx2 and Irx2 is lower in un-patterned NPCs as compared to mid-brain identity NPCs, and the level of expression of Hox genes (like A4, B4, C4) are lower in un-patterned NPCs as compared to spinal cord identity NPCs.
  • NPCs typically unpatterned NPCs are tripotent cells which differentiate mainly towards neuronal and astrocytic cell fates after removal of growth factors EGF and FGF2 as depicted in Fig. 5. Examination of transcription factor profiles of the NPCs indicates that the Pax6 expressing NPCs do not express Olig2 and Nkx2.2, homeodomain proteins which are expressed in ventral neural progenitors (Lu et al., 2002; Zhou, Choi, & Anderson, 2001).
  • the unpatterned NPCs are cultured with RA for a period of about 3 days, followed by culturing in NEM comprising RA and a Shh agonist for about 3 days to about 9 days, for example 6 days followed by culturing in media comprising a Shh agonist without RA for about 3 days.
  • RA no FGFR agonist such as FGF2
  • EGFR agonist optionaly EGF or betacelluin
  • the culture media used for this stage can comprise B27 supplement comprising vitamin A.
  • the expression of specific markers can be used to determine that the unpatterned cells have been caudalized. For example, as shown in the examples quantitative RT-PCR analyses indicated that RA treatment decreased the expression of Otx2 and increased the expression of HoxA4.
  • the unpatterned NPCs are also optionally cultured in the presence of EGF (for example at a concentration of about 10 to about 20ng/ml) for the first 9 days.
  • EGF for example at a concentration of about 10 to about 20ng/ml
  • the NPCs are cultured in the presence of a Shh agonist and cultured with FGFR agonist such as FGF2.
  • the period of caudalization and ventralization is depicted in Fig 6 and extends from approximately day 14 to 26 of the 40 day protocol.
  • 3 days prevents for example differentiation of cells into spinal motoneurons (MNs).
  • MNs spinal motoneurons
  • RA treatment of Nkx6.1 + NPC can, for example cause them to differentiate into spinal MNs.
  • RA is removed for example after 6 days and FGFR agonist such as FGF2 is supplemented in place of EGF.
  • FGFR agonist such as FGF2
  • the method further includes a step of obtaining unpatterned NPCs from columnar cells in the form of rosettes and expressing Pax6
  • rosette refers to a cellular pattern of columnar cells.
  • the neural rosette is the developmental signature of neuroprogenitors in cultures of differentiating embryonic stem cells; rosettes are radial arrangements of columnar cells that express many of the proteins expressed in neuroepithelial cells in the neural tube.
  • neuroprogenitors within neural rosettes can differentiate into the main classes of progeny of neuroepithelial cells in vivo: neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes.
  • the columnar cells forming rosettes can be cultured based on Chambers et al. (2009) dual-SMAD inhibition using chemically defined adherent colony culture (e.g. neural induction media (NIM).
  • chemically defined adherent colony culture e.g. neural induction media (NIM).
  • neural induction media means a base media suitable for culturing neural precursor cells such as DMEM/F12 comprising one or more of sodium pyruvate, a glutamine product such as glutamine or GlutaMAXTM, one or more antibiotics such as penicillin and/or streptomycin, a supplement such as B27 supplement without vitamin A, non-essential amino acids such as Glycine, L-Alanine, L-Asparagine, L- Aspartic acid, L-Glutamic Acid, L-Proline, L-Serine, to which BMP inhibitor such as LDN193189 or Noggin, TGFb inhibitor (such as SB431542), FGFR agonist such as FGF2, optionally heparin and EGFR agonist, optionally EGF.
  • An example of a suitable NIM is provided in Example 1 .
  • NEM and NIM can comprise similar components. Steps using NIM include addition of TGFb inhibitor and BMP inhibitor. Molecules which can inhibit both TGFb receptor and BMP signaling are referred to as dual SMAD inhibitors.
  • the dual SMAD inhibitor can be any protein or small molecule that can inhibit both BMP and TGFb signalling.
  • induction of neural cells can be achieved by growth factors hLIF (e.g. about 10ng/ml) accompanied by N2, B27(-RA), FGFR agonist/heparin and differentiation factors TGFb inhibitor (SB431542) (1 ⁇ ), BMP inhibitor (1 ⁇ ) (LDN193189)/ or Noggin (200ng/ml) or any one of factors mentioned in Example 1 for a period of 7 days.
  • rosettes are re-plated on vessels such as culture plates pre-coated with poly-L-lysine/laminin and in NEM comprising EGF (10-20ng/ml) for 4 to 6 days as described in Example 1 and depicted in Fig. 3.
  • cells are positive for Sox2 and Otx2, a homeodomain protein expressed by fore- and mid-brain cells, but negative for HoxC4, a homeodomain protein produced by cells in the spinal cord.
  • TGFb inhibitors Any compound which binds to TGFb or TGFb receptor and disrupts the interaction of ligand (TGFb) with any of the TGFb receptors (Type I, Type II and/or Type II I) and prevents phosphorylation and activation of SMAD2/3 can be used.
  • a GSK3P inhibitor such as CHIR99021 , TWS1 19 or LY2090314 can be used.
  • WNT a WNT activator or WNT agonist can be used in place thereof, for example Wnt agonist 1 or SKL2001 . Inclusion can increase efficiency.
  • one or more of the culture steps is performed in a monolayer system.
  • the term "monolayer system" as used herein refers to a cell culturing system where cells grow in a single layer on a growth surface, for example in a plate, flask or other vessel, in the absence of feeder cells.
  • the growth surface is a feeder-free system using for example a gelatinous matrix coated vessel such as a culture plate or dish.
  • the gelatinous matrix can for example be gelatin, Matrigel or Geltrex.
  • the monolayer system used to culture the ventralized NPCs comprises culturing the ventralized NPCS on gelatinous matrix coated plates.
  • the gelatinous matrix is selected from gelatin Matrigel, or Geltrex, Vitronectin, Fibronectin or Laminin.
  • Matrigel is a gelatinous protein mixture of secreted extracellular matrix proteins derived from mouse tumor cells and Geltrex is as a reduced growth factor basement membrane extract used for attachment and maintenance of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Any mammalian extracellular or basement matrix used for NPC cell culture can be used including for example Vitronectin, Laminin or Fibronectin from any mammalian sources.
  • Matrigel and Geltrex coated vessels can be made using Matrigel or Geltrex. Matrigel is available for example from Corning, Tewksbury MA 01876, USA and Geltrex is available for example from Thermo-Fisher scientific Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
  • the gelatinous matrix such as laminin is supplemented with a Notch signaling activator such as DLL4 or DLL1. Addition of a Notch signaling activator can improve the efficiency of generation of oNPCs.
  • a feeder-dependent culturing system can also be used, wherein cells grow on mouse embryonic fibroblast cells.
  • poly-L-lysine/laminin refers to a polymer of basic amino acid lysine which enhances the adherence of neural cells to the plate by changing the net charge of plates to positive. They are particularly useful for the culture of central nervous system (CNS) neurons.
  • the L or D isomers can be used for plating, however, the D isomer may be preferred because there is no breakdown released by proteases of the cells.
  • Laminin is an extracellular matrix constitutively used for the culture of neural cells. The plates are first coated with poly L-lysine (PLL) and then with laminin to increase the concentration of laminin applied using this method.
  • EGF receptor (EGFR) agonist means a moleculte that can activate EGFR (e.g. ny small molecule that binds to the EGFR and results in its dimerization EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of Ras/ERK pathway, STAT pathway and FAK pathway), including EGF, betacelluin or NSC228155.
  • EGFR EGF receptor
  • EGF epidermal growth
  • human EGF having for example Gene Identification number (Gene ID: 1950) as well as active conjugates and fragments thereof, including naturally occurring active conjugates and fragments.
  • Any mammalian EGF can be used including human EGF, mouse EGF, sheep EGF, rabbit EGF and rat EGF, as well as active conjugates and active fragments thereof. Human EGF is preferred.
  • EGF can be replaced with other EGFR agonists.
  • active fragments is a polypeptide having amino acid sequence which is smaller in size than, but substantially homologous to the polypeptide it is a fragment of, and where the active fragment polypeptide is about at least 50%, or 60% or 70% or at 80% or 90% or 100% or greater than 100%, for example 1.5-fold, 2-fold, 3-fold, 4-fold or greater than 4-fold as effective in terms of biological action as the polypeptide from which it is a fragment of.
  • active fragment polypeptide is about at least 50%, or 60% or 70% or at 80% or 90% or 100% or greater than 100%, for example 1.5-fold, 2-fold, 3-fold, 4-fold or greater than 4-fold as effective in terms of biological action as the polypeptide from which it is a fragment of.
  • Examples include fragments of EGF which bind and activate EGF receptor.
  • the columnar cells forming rosettes are cultured a monolayer system.
  • the columnar cells in the form of rosettes are obtained from human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), optionally human induced PSC (hiPSCs) or human embryonic stem cells (hESCs).
  • PSCs human pluripotent stem cells
  • hiPSCs human induced PSC
  • hESCs human embryonic stem cells
  • Any hiPSC or hESC line can be used in the methods described herein including for example any fetal or adult derived human NPCs including directly reprogrammed NPCs (drNPCs) (e.g. day 14 cells in Fig. 1 or day 0 cells in Fig 8.
  • Examples of hiPSC cell lines that can be used include 1.53 and BC1.
  • the BC1 cell line one is derived from adult bone marrow CD34+ cells and the 1.53 line which is derived from human fibroblasts using piggyBac vectors.
  • pluripotent stem cell refers to a cell with the capacity, under different conditions, to differentiate to more than one differentiated cell type, and for example the capacity to differentiate to cell types characteristic of the three germ cell layers, and includes embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. Pluripotent cells are characterized by their ability to differentiate to more than one cell type using, for example, a nude mouse teratoma formation assay. Pluripotency is also evidenced by the expression of embryonic stem (ES) cell marker.
  • ES embryonic stem
  • stem cell refers to an undifferentiated cell which is capable of proliferation, self-renewal and giving rise to more progenitor cells having the ability to generate a large number of mother cells that can in turn give rise to differentiated or differentiable daughter cells.
  • the daughter cells can for example be induced to proliferate and produce progeny that subsequently differentiate into one or more mature cell types, while also retaining one or more cells with parental developmental potential.
  • the pluripotent stem cell is from a mammal, such as a human.
  • the pluripotent stem cell is a human iPSC (hiPSC).
  • ROCK inhibitors can be used when the cells are passaged to improve cell survival.
  • a ROCK inhibitor e.g. Y-27632
  • Y-27632 at a concentration of 10 ⁇ is used.
  • a JAK inhibitor such as Jak inhibitor I is used instead of a ROCk inhibitor.
  • JAKi I can be used at a final concentration 1 ⁇ instead of the ROCK inhibitor.
  • passaging refers to transferring the cultured cells from their current growth medium to a new growth medium.
  • Cells can be passaged for example according to as described in Example 1. Any suitable method of passaging however can be used.
  • hIPSCs should be passaged in order to avoid overgrowth and to maintain them in an undifferentiated state. Further it may be preferable to passage iPSCs in clumps.
  • cells can be dislodged from the culture plate with the use of enzymes and enzyme cell detachment solutions such as the enzyme cell detachment solution AccutaseTM.
  • enzymes like Dispase or TrypLE can also be used.
  • o-NPCs generated using methods described herein can be expanded for example for up to three passages without losing their proliferation and differentiation capacity. After this stage the proliferation rate of the cells may slow and they eventually cease proliferating for example at passage 5 to 6 when they morphologically appear as flat, expanded cells.
  • the o-NPCs made using the protocols described herein can produce spinal oligodendrocytes and can be used in various applications.
  • Fig. 1 which outlines the stages of development from iPSCs to o- NPCs
  • the period corresponding to differentiating ventralized NPCs to o-NPCs extends approximately from day 26 to day 40
  • the period corresponding to differentiating unpatterned NPCs to ventralized NPCs is from day 14 to 26
  • the period corresponding to differentiating columnar cells in the form of rosettes to unpatterned NPCs is from day 10 to 14
  • the period of differentiating iPSCs to rossettes is from day 2 to 10.
  • the method of producing o-NPCs comprises a) obtaining iPSCs cultured for at least about 2 days (days 0-2 in Fig. 3);
  • NIM NIM supplemented with leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), FGFR agonist, B27 lacking vitamin A, N2 supplement, TGFb inhibitor, BMP inhibitor, optionally Noggin, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) , inhibitor optionally conpund C or Dorsomorphin for about 7 days (day 2 to day 9 in Fig. 3); and
  • iPSCs are cultured in vessels coated with a gelatinous matrix comprising ploy- L-lysine/laminin for about 1 to 2 days to produce columnar cells in the form of rosettes expressing Pax 6 (day 10 in Fig. 3);
  • step b culturing the columnar cells in the form of rosettes from step b. in NEM comprising EGFR agonist, FGFR agonist, B27 supplement lacking vitamin A and N2 supplement for about 4 days, wherein the iPSCs are cultured in vessels coated with a gelatinous matrix comprising ploy-L-lysine/laminin, to produce upatterned NPCs (day 14 in Fig. 3 and 6);
  • NPCs from step c. for about 6 days (optionally 3 to 9 days) in NEM comprising retinoic acid and/or a retinoic acid analogue such as synthetic retinoid EC23, N2 supplement, B27, EGFR agonist and a Shh agonist to produce caudalized NPCs (day 20 in Fig. 6);
  • NEM comprising retinoic acid and/or a retinoic acid analogue such as synthetic retinoid EC23, N2 supplement, B27, EGFR agonist and a Shh agonist to produce caudalized NPCs (day 20 in Fig. 6);
  • NEM comprising EGFR agonist, N2 supplement, B27 supplement, retinoic acid and/or a retinoic acid analogue and Shh agonist for about 3 days (days 20 to 23 of Fig. 6);
  • NEM comprising FGFR agonist such as FGF2, N2 supplement, B27 supplement and a Shh agonist for about 3 days (days 23 to 26 of Fig. 6) to obtain ventralized NPCs;
  • FGFR agonist such as FGF2, N2 supplement, B27 supplement and a Shh agonist for about 3 days (days 23 to 26 of Fig. 6) to obtain ventralized NPCs;
  • cell culture medium (also referred to herein as a "culture medium” or “medium”) as referred to herein is a medium for culturing cells containing nutrients that maintain cell viability and support proliferation and optionally differentiation.
  • the cell culture medium may contain any of the following in an appropriate combination: salt(s), buffer(s), amino acids, glucose or other sugar(s), antibiotics, serum or serum replacement, and other components such as peptide growth factors, vitamins etc.
  • Cell culture media ordinarily used for particular cell types are known to those skilled in the art.
  • N2 supplement as used herein is used to refer to a hormone mix comprising transferrin, insulin, putrescine, selenium and prodesterone.
  • the N2 supplement can comprise 10mg/ml Transferrin, 2.5 mg/ml Insulin, 1 mg/ml Putrescine, 1 ul/ml Selenium, 1 ul/ml Prodesterone.
  • N1 supplement insulin, transferrin, selenium, putrescein and progesterone.
  • the N1 supplement can comprise 0.5mg/ml recombinant human insulin, 0.5mg/ml human transferrin (partially iron-saturated), 0.5 g/m ⁇ sodium selenite, 1 .6mg/ml putrescine, and 0.73 ⁇ g/ml progesterone.
  • the suitable culture medium can include a suitable base culture medium including for example, NIM and NEM including the formulations described herein and/or any other or media that supports the growth of cells to provide for example a base culture medium composition to which components and optionally other agents can be added.
  • a suitable base culture medium including for example, NIM and NEM including the formulations described herein and/or any other or media that supports the growth of cells to provide for example a base culture medium composition to which components and optionally other agents can be added.
  • the oNPCs are biased to produce oligodendrocytes. Accordingly, also provided is a method of producing a population of cells comprising oligodendrocytes, the method comprising:
  • step of differentiating optionally comprises
  • the o-NPCs can also be used to produce a mixed population of cells or promote formation of radial glial cells expressing for example 3CB2, by culturing the o-NPCs in NEM lacking FGFR agonist such as FGF2 and EGF agonistsupplementation optionally for about 7 to 15 days.
  • FGFR agonist such as FGF2 and EGF agonistsupplementation optionally for about 7 to 15 days.
  • the method further comprises enriching and/or isolating the desired cells.
  • Cells and Compositions and Methods of Use are provided.
  • the population of cells is comprised in a composition optionally comprising a carrier, optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
  • the term "pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” is intended to include any and all solvents, media, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like, compatible with pharmaceutical administration and for use with cells.
  • optional examples of such carriers or diluents include, but are not limited to, buffered saline, culture media, ringer's solutions, dextrose solution, and 5% human serum albumin and bovine serum albumin (BSA).
  • the cell population is an enriched or isolated cell population.
  • it can be enriched to exclude cells that do not share the desired combination of markers.
  • isolated population of cells refers to a population of cells that has been removed and separated from a mixed or heterogeneous population of cells.
  • an isolated population is a substantially pure population of cells as compared to the heterogeneous population from which the cells were isolated or enriched from, for example at least 90% pure.
  • the population is a clonal population derived from a single cone.
  • the population of cells can comprise oNPCs, or cells differentiated thereofrom.
  • the population of cells can isolated, purified and/or diluted in culture media, including the medias described herein or freezing solution (such as culture medium with glycerol and the like).
  • the composition can be frozen.
  • unpatterned NPCs can be frozen for long periods of time (on the order of years).
  • the cells can for example be disociated as single cells, optionally a clonal single cell suspension in culture media such as NIM or NEM described herein.
  • the cells can also be injected in any type of pharmaceutically acceptable, carrier, matrix or pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.
  • a pharmaceutically acceptable matrix such as a gel matrix, comprising the population of cells produced as described herein.
  • a kit comprising PDGFR agonist and thyroxine and/or a thyroxine analog and optionally and other component used in method herein, optionally for preparing o-NPCs.
  • the population of cells are for use in transplantion in a recipient in need thereof.
  • Such population of cells are resuspended using sterile and/or GMP grade pharmaceutically acceptable carriers such as sterile cell culture media.
  • the population of cells produced using a method describd herein can be used to treat spinal cord injuries.
  • the population of cells described can be used to treat acute cervical and thoracic SCI as well as chronic thoracic SCI.
  • the population of cells can also be used for treating chronic cervical spinal injuries, the treatment of multiple sclerorsis (MS), and cerebral palsy (CP) as well as other demyelination diseases.
  • MS multiple sclerorsis
  • CP cerebral palsy
  • Also included in other aspect are uses of said cells and compositions comprising said cells for transplanting and/or treating a subject in need thereof, for example for transplanting and/or treating a subject with a SPI or a demyelination disease, optionally MS or CP.
  • subject includes all members of the animal kingdom including mammals, and suitably refers to humans.
  • treatment refers to an approach aimed at obtaining beneficial or desired results, including clinical results and includes medical procedures and applications including for example pharmaceutical interventions, surgery, radiotherapy and naturopathic interventions as well as test treatments and combinations thereof for treating SPI or other neural conditions that would benefit from an infusion of oligodendrocytes.
  • beneficial or desired clinical results can include, but are not limited to, alleviation or amelioration of one or more symptoms or conditions, diminishment of extent of disease, stabilized (i.e. not worsening) state of disease, preventing spread of disease, delay or slowing of disease progression, amelioration or palliation of the disease state, and remission (whether partial or total), whether detectable or undetectable.
  • administering As used herein, the terms “administering,” “introducing” and “transplanting” are used interchangeably in the context of delivering a population of o-NPCs or their differentiated progeny into a subject, by a method or route which results in at least partial localization of the introduced cells at a desired site.
  • the cells can be implanted directly to the spinal cord, or alternatively be administered by any appropriate route which results in delivery to a desired location in the subject where at least a portion of the implanted cells or components of the cells remain viable.
  • the cells can be administered 2 weeks or longer after the injury.
  • the cells can be administered in culture media, optionally NEM or comprised in a pharmaceutically acceptable matrix, optionally a gel matrix.
  • Cells can be induced from the somatic cells of a subject to be treated.
  • oNPCs produced from an allogeneic donor are used to for example generate a bank of oNPCs with different HLAs.
  • HLA matched oNPCs or cells differentiated therein are then administerd to the subject in need thereof.
  • Example 1 Passaging and maintenance of human induced pluripotent stems cells in culture.
  • This protocol is used for the long-term maintenance of hiPSCs.
  • Various methods of passaging and maintenance can be used.
  • Provided herein is a method that can be used.
  • hiPSCs can be continuously grown on plates for over 2 years without the acquisition of an abnormal karyotype. Media is changed about daily and cells are passaged once they reach about 60-80% conflunecny. hiPSCs can be cultured using feeder dependent culture on mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells or feeder-free culture on Matrigel or Geltrex. For feed-dependent culture, refer to Takahashi & Yamanaka, 2006.
  • mTeSRITM available from Stem Cell Technologies (Vancouver CA) was used.
  • An alternative is StemProTM (Thermofisher).
  • Other hiPSC culture media either feeder dependent or feeder free, can also be used.
  • Most pre-prepared hiPSC culture media contain IGF1 , heregulinl , FGF2, and activin A, to maintain pluripotency.
  • Protein matrix of laminin, nidogen, collagen and/or heparan sulfate proteoglycans such as Matrige 1 TM
  • hiPSCs Human induced pluripotent stem cells
  • Human pluripotent stem cell media such as mTeSRI medium
  • Detachment solution optionally Trypsin, Papain or AccutaseTM enzyme detachment solution
  • ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 (other ROCK inhibitors can be used) Growth medium without ROCK inhibitor
  • the protocol presented here is based on Chambers et al. (2009) dual-SMAD inhibition using chemically defined adherent colony culture.
  • the first day medium in this protocol uses ROCK inhibitor (e.g. Y27632).
  • Induction is achieved by LIF, Noggin ( or other BMP inhibitor), GSK3 ⁇ inhibitor (e.g. CHIR99021) and TGFp-receptor inhibitor (e.g. SB431542) which drive hiPSCs towards a neuroglial lineage.
  • hiPSCs Human induced pluripotent stem cells
  • LIF Leukemia inhibitory factor
  • Detachment solution such as Accutase or Trypsin
  • Noggin ( or other BMP inhibitor)
  • Protein matrix coated plates optionally Matrigel-coated plates (example 3) Coverslips (optional)
  • NIM neural induction medium
  • NPCs maintain NPCs in NIM until passage about 3 (e.g. for about 10-12 days) and in NEM thereafter.
  • the hiPSC-NPCs generated with this method have a dorsal anterior identity.
  • NEM is prepared for example with DMEM/F12, sodium pyruvate, GlutaMAX, penicillin/streptomycin, B27 supplement without vitamin A, 40 ng/ml FGF2, 40 ng/ml EGF and 2 ⁇ g/ml heparin.
  • NPCs that have been generated according to the above protocol are tripotent cells which differentiate mainly towards neuronal and astrocytic cell fates after removal of growth factors EGF and FGF2 (Fig. 5). Examination of transcription factor profiles of the NPCs at this stage indicates that the Pax6 expressing NPCs do not express Olig2 and Nkx2.2, homeodomain proteins which are expressed in ventral neural progenitors (Lu et al., 2002; Zhou, Choi, & Anderson, 2001). This intrinsic or default rostral identity indicates a need for patterning by caudalization and ventralization to generate spinal oligodendrogenic NPCs. In the following procedure, a method for patterning hiPSC derived NPCs towards a more oligodendrogenic cell fate using key morphogens is described.
  • Retinoic acid (or any RA analogue such as synthetic retinoid EC23) B-27 supplement with vitamin A (RA or RA analogue)
  • PDGFR agonist such as PDGF-AA
  • EGF agonist such as EGF
  • Thyroxine or triiodothyronine/thyroid hormone 3 Matrigel-coated plates
  • Nkx6.1 + cells can, by default, be differentiated into spinal motoneurons (MNs).
  • MNs spinal motoneurons
  • RA should be removed after 6 days which overlaps with Shh (or 9 days in total) and FGF2 should be supplemented in place of EGF.
  • oligodendrogenic cells could also be stimulated by triiodothyronine/thyroid hormone 3 (T3) as part of the intrinsic cell division timer (Barres, Lazar, & Raff, 1994).
  • T3 triiodothyronine/thyroid hormone 3
  • oligodendrogenic-NPCs are bipolar or multipolar and are Olig2+ and Nkx2.2+. All growth factors and morphogens, such as RA, Shh (or SAG), PDGF-AA, throxine, etc are preferably supplemented fresh every day.
  • Example 2 An overview of the method of Example 1 is provided in Fig. 1. Specifically, o- NPCs are generated from hiPSCs to produce neural tube patterning in vitro (Fig. 1 ; Wang et al., 2013). Retinoic acid (RA), a potent caudalizing factor, and sonic hedgehog (Shh), a ventralizing morphogen, are used at key stages to drive hiPSC-NPCs to a ventral spinal progenitor fate from days 14 to 26 in vitro. On day 23, removal of RA and addition of FGF2 are used which inhibits motor neuron differentiation. At this time, cells demonstrate elongated, mono- and bi-polar morphology (Fig. 2). These o-NPCs can be expanded for up to three passages without losing their proliferation and differentiation capacity. After this stage the proliferation rate of the cells slows and they eventually cease proliferating at passage 5 to 6 when they morphologically appear as flat, expanded cells.
  • RA Retinoic acid
  • Shh
  • This protocol describes the preparation of Matrigel coated plates for culture of hiPSCs, NPCs, and o-NPCs.
  • Any coated plates suitable for hiPSCs including plates coated with different matrix proteins such as laminin, collagen, heparin sulfate proteoglycans, entactin/nidogen, can be used.
  • Neurobasal medium e.g. Thermoscientific Catalog number: 21 103049
  • Poly L-lysine is the polymer of basic amino acid lysine which enhances the adherence of neural cells to the plate by changing the net charge of plates to positive. They are particularly useful for the culture of central nervous system (CNS) neurons.
  • the L or D isomers can be used for plating, however, the D isomer may be preferred because there is no breakdown released by proteases of the cells.
  • Laminin is an extracellular matrix constitutively used for the culture of neural cells. The plates are first coated with poly L-lysine (PLL) and then with laminin to increase the concentration of laminin applied using this method.
  • hiPSC Human induced pluripotent stem cell
  • NPCs neural progenitor cells
  • o-NPCs oligodendrogenic neural progenitor cells
  • Neural expansion medium see exemplary recipe in example 14
  • Vials can be transferred to liquid nitrogen storage after 24 to 72 hr.
  • Vial can be kept on dry ice for up to 30 min until use. Vial can be thawed in a 37°C water bath for example until half of the contents melt to liquid.
  • Well can be filled with warmed media such as 10% FBS in DMEM/F- 12 and transfered to a sterile centrifuge tube.
  • HiPSC-OPC cells produced according to the method of example 1 were characterized in vitro and in vivo in a clinically relevant clip contusion model of traumatic SCI where o-NPCs showed a strong preference for differentiation to oligodendrocytes.
  • oligodendrogenic NPCs from hiPSCs the Dual SMAD inhibition in monolayer culture was applied (Chambers 2009).
  • hiPSCs are dissociated to single cells and re-plated as a monolayer with a concentration of about 20,000 cells/cm 2 in mTeSRI media, supplemented with FGF2.
  • media is changed to induction media supplemented with Noggin (200 ng/ mL) and SB431542 (10 ⁇ ) for about 7 days.
  • 3 ⁇ GSK3P inhibitor (CHIR99021) is used.
  • the resulting cells are cultured for an additional 7 days (two passages) in defined media (e.g. suitable media comprising B27 supplement or equivalent, FGFR agonist such as FGF2 and EGF agonist such as EGF on Laminin [8 ⁇ g/ml] supplemented with DLL4 (500 ng/mL) (Peprotech) to generate definitive NPCs.
  • suitable media comprising B27 supplement or equivalent, FGFR agonist such as FGF2 and EGF agonist such as EGF on Laminin [8 ⁇ g/ml] supplemented with DLL4 (500 ng/mL) (Peprotech) to generate definitive NPCs.
  • suitable media e.g. suitable media comprising B27 supplement or equivalent, FGFR agonist such as FGF2 and EGF agonist such as EGF on Laminin [8 ⁇ g/ml] supplemented with DLL4 (500 ng/mL) (Peprotech) to generate definitive NPCs.
  • defined media e.g
  • the definitive NPCs are caudalized by culturing them on growth factor reduced matrigel in DMEM/F12, supplemented with 10 ⁇ retinoic acid (RA), B27 supplement (Life Technologies, Cat # 17504044), N2 supplement, and EGF (20ng/ml) for 3 days.
  • Cells undergo ventralization by treatment with 1 ⁇ Shh agonist Purmorphamine (Millipore, Cat # 540220) for 5 days.
  • EGF is replaced by FGF-2 (10ng/ml) from the media for 3 days followed by the addition of 20ng/ml PDGF-AA (Peptrotech 100-13A) for 14 days.
  • the resulting cells are maintained on Laminin coated dishes in DMEM/F12, B27-A, N1 supplement (Sigma Cat # N6530), PDGF-AA (20ng/ml) and FGF-2 (20ng/ml) for 3 more passages prior to transplantation.
  • 10 ⁇ Rock inhibitor (Y-27632) is added on day 1 .
  • Fig. 8A shows an overview of the generation of o-NPCs from unpatterned hiPSCs-NPCs (line 1 .53 ). Changes in the gene expression profile of key transcription factors during generation of o-NPCs from un-patterned NPCs are depicted in B. As seen in panels C and D, the morphology of un-patterned NPCs changes to bi-polar morphology of o-NPCs cultured on laminin, and further, o-NPCs have the potential to be differentiated to all three different cell types; neurons ( ⁇ - ⁇ Tub), astrocytes (GFAP) and oligodendrocytes (CNPase).
  • neurons ⁇ - ⁇ Tub
  • GFAP astrocytes
  • CNPase oligodendrocytes
  • Fig 9A shows how transplanted cells differentiate to express markers of mature oligodendrocytes (APC), immature oligodendrocytes (Olig2), astrocytes (GFAP) and neurons (TUJ1 and NeuN) in o-NPCs and unpatterened NPCs.
  • the optimal duration of caudalization and ventralization may vary dependending on the parent cell line used, culture conditions, and quality of reagents. For cells with ESC origin both caudalization and ventralization are typically 1 day faster, for hiPSC derived from adult cells, the time can depend on the origin of the somatic cells.
  • Several different types of cells have been used to produce iPSCs, including fibroblasts, neural progenitor cells, keratinocytes, melanocytes, CD34+ cells, hepatocytes,cord blood cells and adipose stem cells. In hiPSC derived from CD34+ cells caudalization and ventralization may be slower for up to 2 days. hiPSC derived from fibroblasts typically follow the time line as explained in the figure 1.
  • Cell types can be differentiated at different stages (e.g., Nkx2.2+ and/or Olig2+ progenitors) as assessed with qRT-PCR analysis and/or immunocytochemistry.
  • the generation of functional neuroglial subtypes in the vertebrate CNS is a complex process with numerous key steps including the induction of neuroectoderm from embryonic ectoderm, pattering of the neural plate with regional niches along rostrocaudal and dorsoventral axes, and the differentiation of regionalized progenitor cells into post-mitotic neurons and glia.
  • exogenous morphogenic cues were used.
  • fetal cortical NPCs fetal cortical NPCs
  • fetal spinal NPCs fetal spinal NPCs
  • iPSC-derived NPCs iPSC-derived NPCs
  • unpattenerd NPCs Both hiPSC-NPC and unpatterned NPC lines demonstrated a rostral CNS identity, similar to fetal human cortical NPCs, based on their expression levels of Otx2 and FoxG1 (Fig. 10A).
  • fetal spinal NPCs demonstrated expression of caudal identity markers (HoxA4, B5, C4 and C5) (Fig. 10A).
  • RA retinoic acid
  • Fig. 10B sonic hedgehog or its agonists were used as ventralizing morphogens to drive hNPCs towards a ventral spinal progenitor fate.
  • Fetal human spinal NPCs were only treated with Shh for 6 Days. After this time, cells acquired a spinal identity by losing expression of transcription factor Otx2, an important marker of brain identity, and gaining the expression of HoxA4, a marker of spinal identity (Fig. 10D).
  • Fig 10C Cells were treated with PDGF-AA for an additional two weeks after which they demonstrated elongated monopolar and bipolar morphologies (Fig 10C).
  • the resulting cells expressed high levels of basic helix loop helix (bHLH) transcription factors Nkx2.2 and Olig2 (Fig. 10D).
  • bHLH basic helix loop helix
  • Nkx2.2 and oligodendrogenic transcription factors, such as Olig2 and Nkx6.1 were significantly upregulated in cells at this stage of oNPCs as compared to unpatterned NPCs (Fig. 10D).
  • unpatterned hNPCs were characterized by marked process outgrowth, with an increase in the number of processes emanating from the cell body, and extensive branching of these processes.
  • the morphological changes in NPCs were accompanied by the expression of structural markers characteristic of neuroglial differentiation: astrocytes (GFAP+; 40.1 ⁇ 7.9%), neurons ( ⁇ - ⁇ tubulin+; 17.2 ⁇ 2.05%), and oligodendrocytes (01 +; 7.4.00 ⁇ 4.8%) (Fig. 1 1 B and C).
  • oNPCs cultured in the same differentiation conditions for 10 days displayed a ramified morphology with an intricate lacework of processes that surrounded the cell body.
  • Immunocytochemistry revealed the presence of neurons (pill-tubulin+; 19.1 ⁇ 3.23%), but fewer astrocytes (GFAP+; 23.95 ⁇ 4.03%) and a significant increase in the numbers of oligodendrocytes (01 +; 30.23 ⁇ 6.22%) (Fig. 1 1C) demonstrated the multipotency of oNPC and their predisposition for generating oligodendrocytes.
  • oligodendrocyte-lineage cells differentiated from oNPCs To analyze the oligodendrocyte-lineage cells differentiated from oNPCs, detailed immunohistochemistry was conducted with several oligodendrocyte markers.
  • oNPCs were cultured in the absence of FGF2/EGF on coverslips coated with 100 ⁇ g/ml homogenate from the injured (SCI-h) or naive spinal cord (Na ' ive-h) for one week.
  • the method attempts in vitro to mimic the factors which are present in naive or injured spinal cord during the time of transplantation, the naive homogentate should contain all (or most of) the factors which exist in spinal cord normally with out injury, and injured homogenate should have most of the factors that are in microenvironment after injury.
  • the factors that are present in spinal cord microenvironemet after injury can change the fate of cells from oligodendrocytes to astrocytes but have no effect of the fate of neruons.
  • the fate alteration can be reduced resulting in more oligodendrocytes and fewer astrocytes in injured spinal cord microenvironment (SCI-h).
  • TFs transcription factors
  • Cells were dissociated into a single-cell suspension by using Accutase [or Trypsin, or papaein] at a concentration of 5x 10 4 cells/ ⁇ to 20x 10 4 cells/ ⁇ in neural expansion medium, and were transplanted (2 ⁇ ) bilaterally at 4 positions caudal and rostral to the lesion epicenter, bilateral to the midline. Injections sites were situated approximately 2 mm from the midline and entered 1 mm deep into the cord. Intraparenchymal cell transplantation requires slow injections and gradual needle withdrawal to ensure cells do not reflux out of the needle tract. When inserting the needle, the entire bevel should be below the pia mater to ensure injection into the cord. When removing the needle, additional time may be required if reflux is seen. This can be modified as required.
  • oNPCs were differentiated as described in Example 1 1.
  • the concentration of BMP4, TGFp and Jaggedl was compared between injured spinal cord homogenate (SCI-h) and (naive spinal cord homogenate) Naive-h (1 mg/ml total protein) using ELISA.
  • Contralateral ⁇ transplanted human embryonic stem cell-derived neural precursor cells migrate and improve brain functions in strokedamaged rats.
  • Remyelination Is correlated with regulatory T cell induction following human embryoid body-derived neural precursor cell transplantation in a viral model of multiple sclerosis.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Cell Biology (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Neurology (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Biotechnology (AREA)
  • Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
  • Pharmacology & Pharmacy (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Developmental Biology & Embryology (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Genetics & Genomics (AREA)
  • Reproductive Health (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Gynecology & Obstetrics (AREA)
  • Psychiatry (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Virology (AREA)
  • Microbiology (AREA)
  • Hospice & Palliative Care (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Micro-Organisms Or Cultivation Processes Thereof (AREA)
  • Medicines Containing Material From Animals Or Micro-Organisms (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne des procédés de production, des compositions comprenant et des utilisations de cellules progénitrices de neurones oligodendrogéniques (o-NPC), fabriquées en utilisant une combinaison d'agoniste PDGFR et de thyroxine ou un analogue de thyroxine. Le procédé comprend : l'obtention de cellules progénitrices de neurones ventralisées (NPC), les NPC ventralisées exprimant Sox2, Nkx6-1, un niveau réduit de Pax6 comparées aux NPC non modelées, et une expression élevée de HoxA4 comparées aux NPC non modelées ; la culture des NPC ventralisées durant environ 12 à environ 16 jours (jours 26 à 40 de la FIG. 7 ; jours 12 à 27 de la FIG. 10) dans un milieu d'expansion neural (NEM) enrichi de i) l'agoniste PDGFR durant les environ 12 à environ 16 jours et ii) de la thyroxine ou un analogue de thyroxine pour ce dernier environ 7 à environ 9 jours, pour produire des o-NPC exprimant Sox2 et Nkx2.2, un niveau réduit de Pax6 et Nkx6.1 comparées aux NPC ventralisées et un niveau élevé de HoxA4 et Olig2 comparées aux NPC ventralisées.
PCT/CA2018/050926 2017-08-04 2018-07-30 Génération de cellules progénitrices de neurones oligodendrogéniques Ceased WO2019023793A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP18842008.7A EP3662058B1 (fr) 2017-08-04 2018-07-30 Génération de cellules progénitrices de neurones oligodendrogéniques
CA3071893A CA3071893A1 (fr) 2017-08-04 2018-07-30 Generation de cellules progenitrices de neurones oligodendrogeniques
DK18842008.7T DK3662058T3 (da) 2017-08-04 2018-07-30 Generering af oligodendrogene neurale stamceller
US16/636,153 US11859206B2 (en) 2017-08-04 2018-07-30 Generation of oligodendrogenic neural progenitor cells
ES18842008T ES2989792T3 (es) 2017-08-04 2018-07-30 Generación de células progenitoras neurales oligodendrogénicas

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201762541477P 2017-08-04 2017-08-04
US62/541,477 2017-08-04
CA3006897A CA3006897A1 (fr) 2017-08-04 2018-06-01 Generation de cellules progenitrices neurales oligodendrogeniques
CA3,006,897 2018-06-01

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2019023793A1 true WO2019023793A1 (fr) 2019-02-07

Family

ID=65232344

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/CA2018/050926 Ceased WO2019023793A1 (fr) 2017-08-04 2018-07-30 Génération de cellules progénitrices de neurones oligodendrogéniques

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2019023793A1 (fr)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2020194141A1 (fr) * 2019-03-26 2020-10-01 Università Degli Studi Di Roma "La Sapienza" Système stable de culture in vitro de précurseurs de cellules granuleuses du cerveau (gcp), procédé stable de culture in vitro desdites cellules et utilisation dudit système ou procédé de culture in vitro
CN111979197A (zh) * 2019-05-23 2020-11-24 苏州海苗生物科技有限公司 一种胶质瘤干细胞体外培养方法、培养基
WO2022051847A1 (fr) * 2020-09-08 2022-03-17 University Health Network Procédés de génération de cellules progénitrices neurales avec une identité de moelle épinière
CN116836927A (zh) * 2023-09-04 2023-10-03 山东兴瑞生物科技有限公司 一种由iPSCs诱导为神经干细胞的方法
EP4048282A4 (fr) * 2019-10-22 2024-01-10 Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Cellules progénitrices neurales corticales à partir d'ipsc
WO2024113354A1 (fr) * 2022-12-02 2024-06-06 Nuwacell Biotechnologies Co., Ltd. Milieu de culture, matrice de revêtement et procédé de multiplication de cellules progénitrices dopaminergiques du mésencéphale
WO2025078508A1 (fr) * 2023-10-10 2025-04-17 Institut D'investigació Biomèdica De Bellvitge Nouveaux procédés de détection d'anticorps neuronaux
EP4381051A4 (fr) * 2021-08-04 2025-06-25 University Health Network Cellules progénitrices neurales et leurs utilisations thérapeutiques

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015179822A1 (fr) * 2014-05-22 2015-11-26 The New York Stem Cell Foundation Oligodendrocytes fonctionnels dérivés de cellules souches pluripotentes et leurs méthodes de préparation et d'utilisation

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015179822A1 (fr) * 2014-05-22 2015-11-26 The New York Stem Cell Foundation Oligodendrocytes fonctionnels dérivés de cellules souches pluripotentes et leurs méthodes de préparation et d'utilisation

Non-Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
GORRIS, R. ET AL.: "Pluripotent Stem Cell -Derived Radial Glia-Like as Stable Intermediate for Efficient Generation of Human Oligodendrocytes", GLIA. VOL., vol. 63, 2015, pages 2152 - 2167, XP055571568, ISSN: 1098-1136 *
KHAZAEI, M. ET AL.: "Generation of Oligodendrogenic Spinal Neural Progenitor Cells from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells", CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN STEM CELL BIOLOGY, vol. 42, 2017, XP055571574, ISSN: 1938-8969 *
See also references of EP3662058A4 *
SUNDBERG, M. ET AL.: "Production and Isolation of NG2+ Oligodendrocyte Precursors from Human Embryonic Stem Cells in Defined Serum-Free Medium", STEM CELL RESEARCH., vol. 5, 2010, pages 91 - 103, XP027229083, ISSN: 1876-7753 *

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2020194141A1 (fr) * 2019-03-26 2020-10-01 Università Degli Studi Di Roma "La Sapienza" Système stable de culture in vitro de précurseurs de cellules granuleuses du cerveau (gcp), procédé stable de culture in vitro desdites cellules et utilisation dudit système ou procédé de culture in vitro
CN111979197A (zh) * 2019-05-23 2020-11-24 苏州海苗生物科技有限公司 一种胶质瘤干细胞体外培养方法、培养基
EP4048282A4 (fr) * 2019-10-22 2024-01-10 Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Cellules progénitrices neurales corticales à partir d'ipsc
WO2022051847A1 (fr) * 2020-09-08 2022-03-17 University Health Network Procédés de génération de cellules progénitrices neurales avec une identité de moelle épinière
JP2023539924A (ja) * 2020-09-08 2023-09-20 ユニバーシティー ヘルス ネットワーク 脊髄アイデンティティを持つ神経前駆細胞の作製方法
EP4211229A4 (fr) * 2020-09-08 2024-10-16 University Health Network Procédés de génération de cellules progénitrices neurales avec une identité de moelle épinière
EP4381051A4 (fr) * 2021-08-04 2025-06-25 University Health Network Cellules progénitrices neurales et leurs utilisations thérapeutiques
WO2024113354A1 (fr) * 2022-12-02 2024-06-06 Nuwacell Biotechnologies Co., Ltd. Milieu de culture, matrice de revêtement et procédé de multiplication de cellules progénitrices dopaminergiques du mésencéphale
US12188046B2 (en) 2022-12-02 2025-01-07 Nuwacell Biotechnologies Co., Ltd. Culture medium, coating matrix and method for expanding midbrain dopaminergic progenitor cells
CN116836927A (zh) * 2023-09-04 2023-10-03 山东兴瑞生物科技有限公司 一种由iPSCs诱导为神经干细胞的方法
CN116836927B (zh) * 2023-09-04 2023-12-01 山东兴瑞生物科技有限公司 一种由iPSCs诱导为神经干细胞的方法
WO2025078508A1 (fr) * 2023-10-10 2025-04-17 Institut D'investigació Biomèdica De Bellvitge Nouveaux procédés de détection d'anticorps neuronaux

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP7407865B2 (ja) 細胞の再プログラミングのための方法とその用途
WO2019023793A1 (fr) Génération de cellules progénitrices de neurones oligodendrogéniques
KR102487142B1 (ko) 만능 세포를 분화시키는 방법
EP3119881B1 (fr) Derivation de neurones dopaminergiques du mesencephale
EP2882846B1 (fr) Procédés et compositions pour la production rapide de cellules épithéliales pigmentées de la rétine à partir de cellules multipotentes
EP2064319B1 (fr) Méthodes de production de cellules gliales et neuronales et leur utilisation pour le traitement de troubles médicaux du système nerveux central
EP3662058B1 (fr) Génération de cellules progénitrices de neurones oligodendrogéniques
CN116194127A (zh) 生成具有脊髓特性的神经祖细胞的方法
US20130122589A1 (en) Targeted differentiation of stem cells
Świerczek et al. From pluripotency to myogenesis: a multistep process in the dish
KR20230165846A (ko) 도파민성 전구세포 및 사용 방법
US20240124843A1 (en) Functional feline pancreatic cells from adipose tissue
WO2023010209A1 (fr) Cellules progénitrices neurales et leurs utilisations thérapeutiques
Usman et al. Conditioned media trans-differentiate mature fibroblasts into pancreatic beta-like cells
HK1131640A (en) Methods of generating glial and neuronal cells and use of same for the treatment of medical conditions of the cns
HK1131640B (en) Methods of generating glial and neuronal cells and use of same for the treatment of medical conditions of the cns

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 18842008

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 3071893

Country of ref document: CA

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 2018842008

Country of ref document: EP

Effective date: 20200304