Non-human mammal model of human degenerative disorder, uses thereof, and method of treating human degenerative disorder
The present application relates to a non-human mammal model of a human neurodegenerative disorder, methods of producing the non-human mammal model, and methods of using the non-human mammal model to identify agents suitable for treating a neurodegenerative disorder. The present application also relates to methods of treating neurodegenerative disorders and restoring normal brain interstitial potassium levels.
1 . A method of restoring normal brain interstitial K + levels in a subject with dysregulated glial K + channel function, said method comprising: selecting a subject having dysregulated K + channel function; and administering to the selected subject a preparation of glial progenitor cells that are both CD140a+ and CD44+ at a dosage effective to restore normal brain interstitial glial K + levels in the selected subject.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the dysregulated glial K+ channel function is characterized by defective K+ conductance, defective K+ uptake, and/or defective K+ channel expression.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the preparation of glial progenitor cells are astrocyte-biased glial progenitor cells.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the glial progenitor cells of the preparation are further A2B5+.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said preparation of glial progenitor cells is administered to the striatum of the subject.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the glial progenitor cells are human glial progenitor cells.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the glial progenitor cells are derived from fetal tissue, embryonic stem cells, or induced pluripotent stem cells.