Discovery, localization, harvest, and propagation of an FGF2 and BDNF-responsive population of neural and neuronal progenitor cells in the adult human forebrain

Abstract

The present invention provides neuronal progenitor cells which have been identified in histological sections of the adult human brain. The present invention also provides methods to localize, characterize, harvest, and propagate neuronal progenitor cells derived from human brain tissue. Additional methods are provided for introducing and expressing genes in the brain.

1 - 13 . (canceled)  
     
     
         14 . A method of treating neurological damage by transplanting or implanting neuronal progenitor cells into a human brain comprising: 
 providing isolated adult human neuronal progenitor cells; and    transplanting or implanting said progenitor cells to the brain of a human patient.    
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the neural or neuronal progenitor cells are transplanted or implanted into the brain's subendyma of the human neonatal or post-natal ventricular wall.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the neurological damage resulted from a degenerative neurological disease.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the patient suffers from Parkinson's disease.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the patient suffers from a demyelinating disease.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the neurological damage resulted from ischemic conditions or stroke.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the neurological damage resulted from traumatic brain injury.  
     
     
         21 - 32 . (canceled)  
     
     
         33 . A method of expressing a gene in the brain of a patient, comprising: 
 providing isolated postnatal or adult human neuronal progenitor cells;    transfecting said cells with the gene;    introducing said transfected cells to the brain of a patient; and    expressing the gene in the brain of the patient.    
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the patient suffers from Tay-Sachs disease.  
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the gene encodes hexoseaminidase.  
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the patient suffers from a hereditary metabolic disease.  
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 36 , wherein the hereditary metabolic disease is mucopolysaccharidosis.  
     
     
         38 - 41 . (canceled)