Cells exhibiting neuronal progenitor cell characteristics and methods of making them

Abstract

Disclosed are cells exhibiting neuronal progenitor cell characteristics, and methods of making them from marrow adherent stem cells by regulating cellular pathways in the marrow adherent stem cells that are associated with glial transdifferentiation of the marrow adherent stem cells.

1 . A method of producing cells exhibiting neuronal progenitor cell characteristics from material comprising marrow adherent stem cells, the method comprising:
 contacting the marrow adherent stem cells with an inhibitor of JAK/STAT signal transduction.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor of JAK/STAT signal transduction comprises an inhibitor of STAT1 or STAT3. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor of JAK/STAT signal transduction comprises 4-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)amino-6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising isolating the cells exhibiting neuronal progenitor cell characteristics and administering them to a patient. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the marrow adherent stem cells are derived from cord blood. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the marrow adherent stem cells are derived from bone marrow. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the marrow adherent stem cells are selected from the group consisting of human marrow adherent stem cells, rat marrow adherent stem cells, mouse marrow adherent stem cells, primate marrow adherent stem cells, pig marrow adherent stem cells, cow marrow adherent stem cells, and sheep marrow adherent stem cells.