Lineage restricted glial precursors

Abstract

Glial precursor cell populations from mammalian central nervous system and embryonic stem cells has been isolated. These A2B5 + E-NCAM − glial-restricted precursor (GRP) cells are capable of differentiating into oligodendrocytes, A2B5 + process-bearing astrocytes, and A2B5 − fibroblast-like astrocytes, but not into neurons. GRP cells can be maintained by regeneration in culture. GRP cells differ from oligodendrocyte-type-2 astrocyte (0-2A) progenitor cells in growth factor requirements, morphology, and progeny. Methods of use of GRP cells are also disclosed.

1 . An isolated population of mammalian glial-restricted precursor cells derived from mammalian embryonic stem cells, said mammalian glial-restricted precursor cells being immunonegative for PDGF-α receptor, PDGF-β receptor, and Ran-2 antigen, not labeled with R24 anti-GD3 antibody, and immunopositive for A2B5 antigen.  
     
     
         2 . A method for isolating a population of mammalian glial-restricted precursor cells comprising: 
 (a) incubating mammalian embryonic stem cells under differentiation-inducing conditions so that the cells differentiate; and    (b) isolating a population of mammalian glial-restricted precursor cells by immunoselecting A2B5-immunoreactive cells from the differentiated cells.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein immunoselecting A2B5-immunoreactive cells is performed via a procedure selected from the group consisting of specific antibody capture, fluorescence activated cell sorting, and magnetic bead capture.  
     
     
         4 . A population of mammalian CNS glial restricted precursor cells isolated by the method of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         5 . The population of mammalian CNS glial restricted precursor cells of  claim 3  wherein said cells are immunonegative for PDGF-α receptor, PDGF-β receptor, and Ran-2 antigen, not labeled with R24 anti-GD3 antibody, and immunopositive for A2B5 antigen.