Patent ID: 6610540
Filing Date: 2003-08-26
Classification: A61K,A61P,C12N

Abstract:
A method of increasing cell differentiation of undifferentiated mesencephalic precursor cells comprising:(a) culturing undifferentiated mesencephalic precursor cells in low ambient oxygen conditions between about 1% to about 5% oxygen, wherein said low ambient oxygen conditions increase the cellular differentiation of said mesencephalic precursor cells into dopaminergic neurons as compared to a similar mesencephalic precursor cell population that is grown in 20% oxygen incubator conditions, and (b) determining the differentiation specific phenotype of said mesencephalic precursor cells by monitoring the message level for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), Ptx-3, Engrailed-1 (En1), or fibroblast growth factor 8b (FGF8b) wherein an increase in TH, Ptx-3, En1 or FGF8b message level indicates the differentiation of said mesencephalic precursor cells.