| abstract |
Porcine mesencephalic cells and methods for using the cells to treat neurological deficits due to neurodegeneration are described. The porcine mesencephalic cells can be modified to be suitable for transplantation into a xenogeneic subject, such as a human. For example, the porcine mesencephalic cells can be modified such that an antigen (e.g., an MHC class I antigen) on the cell surface which is capable of stimulating an immune response against the cell in a xenogeneic subject is altered (e.g., by contact with an anti-MHC class I antibody, or a fragment of derivative thereof) to inhibit rejection of the cell when introduced into the subject. In one embodiment, the porcine mesencephalic cells are obtained from a pig which is essentially free from organisms or substances which are capable of transmitting infection or disease to the recipient subject. The porcine mesencephalic cells of the present invention can be used to treat neurological deficits due to neurodegeneration in the brain of a xenogeneic subject (e.g., a human with epilepsy, head trauma, stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, or Huntington's disease) by introducing the cells into the brain of the subject. |