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Method of Producing Immortalized Primary Human Keratinocytes for HPV Investigation, Testing of Therapeutics, and Skin Graft Generation

Description of Invention:
One of the major limitations of using cultured keratinocytes for research studies is that primary keratinocytes senesce after a few passages. Keratinocytes from specific anatomical sites are also difficult to culture. Scientists at the NIH have demonstrated that primary keratinocytes, from several anatomical sites, when treated with a small-molecule inhibitor of the ROCK protein maintain a proliferative state and become immortal without genetic modification to the cells. Keratinocytes are also the host cells for human papillomaviruses (HPVs) and other viruses and this technology enables the study of those viruses that do not immortalize cells. In addition, this technology may enhance the quantity of material available for skin grafts, as current grafting techniques are limited by the amount of donor material immediately available. Thus, this technology may provide an ideal model environment for producing large quantities of both normal and diseased primary human keratinocytes from small numbers of primary cells from individual hosts or anatomical sites for research purposes, testing of therapeutics, skin graft generation and HPV investigation.

Applications:
  • Promotion of sustained primary human keratinocyte proliferation in vitro.
  • Human skin graft cultures and techniques.
  • Immortalization of both normal and diseased cells from individual hosts.
  • Immortalization of "difficult to establish" keratinocytes from different anatomical sites.
  • In vitro assay for investigating the full life cycle of HPV.
  • In vitro screen for HPV inhibitors.


Advantages:
  • Allows culture and immortalization of many types of keratinocytes that are difficult to establish and pass in culture.
  • Allows isolation of diseased and normal keratinocytes from individual hosts for research and therapeutic purposes.
  • Current HPV investigations are limited by keratinocyte senescence.
  • Skin graft generation is currently dependent on slow culture of limited quantities of donor material.


Development Status:
Early stage: cell-based assays using primary human cells.

Inventors:
Alison A McBride (NIAID)
Sandra E Chapman (NIAID)
Jonathan C Vogel (NCI)
Atsushi Terunuma (NCI)


Patent Status:
HHS, Reference No. E-055-2009/0
US, Application No. 13/132,391 filed 02 Jun 2011


Relevant Publication:
  1. Chapman S et al. Human keratinocytes are efficiently immortalized by a Rho kinase inhibitor. J Clin Invest. 2010 Jul 1;120(7):2619-2626. [PubMed: 20516646]


Licensing Status:
Available for licensing.

Collaborative Research Opportunity:
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Laboratory of Viral Diseases is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize methods of producing immortalized primary human keratinocytes. Please contact Johanna Schneider, Ph.D. at 301-451-9824 or schneiderjs@niaid.nih.gov for more information.


For Licensing Information Please Contact:
Charlene Sydnor Ph.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd. Suite 325,
Rockville, MD 20852
United States
Email: sydnorc@mail.nih.gov
Phone: 301-435-4689
Fax: 301-402-0220


Ref No: 2149

Updated: 08/2010

 

 
 
 
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