Differentiation of Bone Marrow Cells into Neuronal Cells and Uses Therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods of inducing differentiation of mammalian bone marrow stromal cells into neuronal cells by contacting marrow stromal cells with a neuronal differentiation-inducing compounds. Neuronal differentiation-inducing compounds of the invention include anti-oxidants such as, but not limited to, beta-mercaptoethanol, dimethylsulfoxide, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, ascorbic acid, dimethylfumarate, and n-acetylcysteine. Once induced to differentiate into neuronal cells, the cells can be used for cell therapy, gene therapy, or both, for treatment of diseases, disorders, or conditions of the central nervous system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An isolated neuronal cell made by a method of inducing differentiation of an isolated marrow stromal cell, said method comprising contacting said isolated marrow stromal cell with at least one neuronal differentiation-inducing compound, thereby inducing differentiation of said isolated marrow stromal cell into said neuronal cell. 
     
     
         2 . The cell of  claim 1 , wherein said cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         3 . An isolated neuronal cell made by a method of inducing differentiation of an isolated marrow stromal cell, said method comprising contacting said isolated marrow stromal cell with at least one neuronal differentiation-inducing compound, thereby inducing differentiation of said isolated marrow stromal cell in said neuronal cell, wherein said neuronal cell is further transfected with an isolated nucleic acid encoding a therapeutic protein, and further wherein when said protein is expressed in said cell said protein serves to effect treatment of a disease, disorder, or condition of the central nervous system. 
     
     
         4 . The cell of  claim 3 , wherein said isolated nucleic acid encodes a protein selected from the group consisting of a cytokine, a chemokine, a neurotrophin, another trophic protein, a growth factor, an antibody, and a glioma toxic protein. 
     
     
         5 . The cell of  claim 3 , wherein said cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         6 . An isolated neuronal cell made by a method of producing an isolated neuronal cell, said method comprising isolating a marrow stromal cell; contacting said marrow stromal cell with a neuronal differentiation inducing compound, wherein said compound induces said isolated marrow stromal cell to differentiate into said isolated neuronal cell, thereby producing said isolated neuronal cell. 
     
     
         7 . The cell of  claim 6 , wherein said cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         8 . An isolated neuronal cell made by a method of producing an isolated neuronal cell, said method comprising isolating a marrow stromal cell, contacting said marrow stromal cell with a neuronal differentiation inducing compound, wherein said compound induces said isolated marrow stromal cell to differentiate into said isolated neuronal cell, thereby producing said isolated neuronal cell, wherein said neuronal cell is further transfected with an isolated nucleic acid encoding a therapeutic protein, and further wherein when said protein is expressed in said cell, said protein serves to effect treatment of a disease, disorder, or condition of the central nervous system. 
     
     
         9 . The cell of  claim 8 , wherein said isolated nucleic acid encodes a protein selected from the group consisting of a cytokine, a chemokine, a neurotrophin, another trophic protein, a growth factor, an antibody, and a glioma toxic protein. 
     
     
         10 . The cell of  claim 9 , wherein said cell is a human cell.