DR. MARK ZERN
Medical Practice at V St, Sacramento, CA

2005017, Aug 4, 2005

Sep 30, 2004

10/956169

Mark Zern - Sacramento CA, US
Hitoshi Shirahashi - Nakama City, JP

REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - Oakland CA

C12N005/08

435370000

The invention provides methods and media for culturing embryonic stem (ES) cells, such as human ES cells, and directing them along the hepatic lineage. It further provides methods for maintaining hepatocytes in culture for extended periods. The invention further provides cells cultured by the methods of the invention. Additionally, the invention provides methods of transducing cells with marker proteins that will be expressed only in hepatocyte-like cells and selecting for cells expressing the marker protein.

2005012, Jun 9, 2005

Jun 21, 2002

10/481191

Mark Zern - Sacramento CA, US
Henning Wege - Hamburg, DE

Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

A61K048/00, C12N005/08, C12N015/867

424093210, 435366000, 435456000, 435368000

Immortalized primary adult and fetal human cells are provided that express a functional telomerase catalytic subunit from a nucleic acid sequence encoding the hTERT gene. The telomerase-immortalized human cells can be maintained in culture for at least 35 population doublings without developing a transformed phenotype, and while continuing to express proteins associated with the primary differentiated cell type. The invention is also directed to immortalized, non-transformed cell lines derived from primary human cells that express a functional telomerase catalytic subunit and to their use for transplantation to patients with hepatic disease. The invention also is directed to an improved biologic extracorporeal liver support device wherein the improvement is the use of telomerase-immortalized hepatocytes incorporated onto the scaffolding of the cell colonization chamber and use of the improved device for treating symptoms of patients with hepatic disease.