Advanced Cell Technology (OTC BB: ACTC) new Patent for Generating Hemangioblast Cells
OTCBB: ACTC has been issued a patent (no# 8,017,393) for a method for generating and expanding hemangioblast cells from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to treat a broad spectrum of Vascular and Hematopoietic Disorders
Hemangioblasts are precursor cells that can generate a broad spectrum of important blood, immune, and vascular cell types, including red blood cells, platelets, blood vessels, and mesenchymal stem cells, which have powerful immune-modulatory effects and can make bone and cartilage among other replacement tissues.
- hESC derived hemangioblasts can differentiate into functional megakaryocytes and platelets on a large scale. The hESC-platelets displayed features that were indistinguishable from those of normal blood platelets, and participated in both clot formation and retraction in vitro.
The Bottom Line: The hemangioblast cells covered by the new patent are highly expandable and have been shown to consistently and reproducibly give rise to a multitude of cells of the hematopoietic (blood) and endothelial (vascular) lineages. Preclinical research … has shown that hemangioblasts can repair vascular damage, including complications associated with diabetes, heart disease, and peripheral artery disease. Importantly, hESC-derived hemangioblasts can provide an unlimited source of ‘off-the-shelf’ mesenchymal stem cells which among their many potential applications have been shown to repair damage after myocardial infarction, osteoarthritis, and to alleviate the debilitating symptoms of autoimmune diseases such as Crohn’s (irritable bowel syndrome) and multiple sclerosis, among others.
