Patent ID: 8647874

Claim:
A method of generating astrocyte-like cells expressing glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) at a level at least 2 times greater than a basal production of said GDNF in a non-differentiated mesenchymal stem cell cultured in a serum-free medium, the method comprising: (a) culturing mesenchymal stem cells in a medium comprising human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) and human basic fibroblast growth factor (hbFGF), wherein said medium is devoid of PDGF and human neuregulin 1-β1; and subsequently (b) incubating said mesenchymal stem cells in a differentiating medium comprising platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) and human neuregulin 1-β1, wherein said differentiating medium is devoid of hbEGF and hEGF, thereby generating astrocyte-like cells that express GDNF at a level at least 2 times greater than a basal production of said GDNF in a non-differentiated mesenchymal stem cell, cultured in a serum-free medium.