Patent ID: 6780641
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: A61K,C12N

Abstract:
A genetically modified human microglia cell which can be maintained as a stable, substantially homogeneous cell line in-vitro, said genetically modified cell comprising:a microglia cell of human origin which is stable when maintained in culture and which (i) has demonstrable phagocytic properties; (ii) produces substantially homogenous progeny continuously while maintained in culture; (iii) presents at least CD11b and CD68 as surface antigens; and (iv) contains human genomic DNA which has been genetically modified to include a viral vector carrying at least one DNA segment encoding an exogenous gene for intracellular expression wherein said viral vector is an amphotrophic retroviral viral vector and wherein said viral vector includes an exogenous DNA sequence encoding a v-myc gene.