Technologies
This technology is a method for inhibiting DNA replication to force cell cycle exit and induce stem cells to terminally differentiate into functionally mature cells suitable both for transplantation/grafting for the treatment of disease and for research use.
Differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into various cell types has the potential to provide a wide range of therapeutic and investigational applications, including cell replacement therapies, tissue engineering, and drug screening. For example, Type I Diabetes patients are dependent on exogenous insulin due to their lack of beta cells; therefore, the ability to re-introduce functional beta cells via cell replacement therapy can greatly improve their condition. Current methods to produce terminally differentiated, functional cells rely on the modulation of extrinsic signaling pathways and the stem cell niche microenvironment. However, a robust pipeline capable of accurately and efficiently differentiating stem cells into distinct, functional cell types is not yet available.
This technology describes methods to terminally differentiate stem cells by interfering with the cell’s ability to undergo DNA replication using various cell cycle inhibitors. These inhibitors target a variety of enzymes important to DNA replication, including, but not limited to, DNA polymerase, cell cycle transcription factors, topoisomerase, and helicase. These interventions induce cell cycle exit, which drives subsequent terminal differentiation and functional maturation of the cell. This technology may be used to robustly differentiate stem cells into a variety of cell types, such as mature pancreatic beta cells, neurons, and muscle cells, for research, drug testing, and therapeutic use.
This technology has been validated with human pluripotent stem cells.
Patent Pending(US20210052665)
IR CU18295, CU19085
Licensing Contact: Kristin Neuman
Patent Pending(US20210052665)
IR CU18295, CU19085
Licensing Contact: Kristin Neuman