Human Stem Cell Use: Embryonic Stem Cell
Methods for detection and elimination of residual human embryonic stem cells in a differentiated cell product
Human embryonic stem cells (hESC), and other related pluripotent stem cells, have great potential as starting material for the manufacture of curative cell therapies. This is primarily for two reasons. First, by manipulating cues in their cell culture conditions, these cells can be directed to become essentially any desired human cell type (a property known […]
Stem Cell-Based Therapy for Cartilage Regeneration and Osteoarthritis
Arthritis is the result of degeneration of cartilage (the tissue lining the joints) and leads to pain and limitation of function. Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases are among the most common of all health conditions and are the number one cause of disability in the United States. The annual economic impact of arthritis in the […]
Neural Stem Cells as a Developmental Candidate to Treat Alzheimer Disease
Alzheimer disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia among the elderly and the third leading cause of death, presently afflicts over 5 million people in the USA, including over 500,000 in California. Age is the major risk factor, with 5% of the population over age 65 affected, with the incidence doubling every 5 years […]
Sustained siRNA production from human MSC to treat Huntingtons Disease and other neurodegenerative disorders
One in every ten thousand people in the USA have Huntington’s Disease, and it impacts many more. Multiple generations within a family can inherit the disease, resulting in escalating health care costs and draining family resources. This highly devastating and fatal disease touches all races and socioeconomic levels, and there are currently no cures. Screening […]
Human Immune System Mouse models as preclinical platforms for stem cell derived grafts
A major obstacle to stem cell based therapies is the immune response of the patient to stem cell derived tissue, which can be recognized as foreign and attacked by the patient’s immune system. T cells orchestrate immune responses and are “educated” about self versus foreign in an organ called the thymus. It may be possible […]
Induction of immune tolerance after spinal grafting of human ES-derived neural precursors
Previous clinical studies have shown that grafting of human fetal brain tissue into the CNS of adult recipients can be associated with long-term (more then 10 years) graft survival even after immunosuppression is terminated. These clinical data represent in part the scientific base for the CNS to be designated as an immune privilege site, i.e., […]
Role of HLA in neural stem cell rejection using humanized mice
One of the key issues in stem cell transplant biology is solving the problem of transplant rejection. Despite over three decades of research in human embryonic stem cells, little is known about the factors governing immune system tolerance to grafts derived from these cells. In order for the promise of embryonic stem cell transplantation for […]
Role of HLA in neural stem cell rejection using humanized mice
One of the key issues in stem cell transplant biology is solving the problem of transplant rejection. Despite over three decades of research in human embryonic stem cells, little is known about the factors governing immune system tolerance to grafts derived from these cells. In order for the promise of embryonic stem cell transplantation for […]
Induction of immune tolerance to human embryonic stem cell-derived allografts
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can undergo unlimited reproduction and retain the capability to differentiate into all cell types in the body. Therefore, as a renewable source of various cell types, hESCs hold great promise for human cell replacement therapy. Significant progress has been made in establishing the conditions to differentiate hESCs into cells of […]
Donor natural killer (NK) cells as “veto” cells to promote donor-specific tolerance
A major issue in the use of stem cells or in organ transplantation in general is the need to overcome graft rejection. Unfortunately, the only means currently available involves the use of systemic immunosuppression which leaves the recipient at risk for opportunistic infections. This proposal will seek to use the donor’s immune cells to prevent […]