Human Stem Cell-Derived Neural Precursors for Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases of the Central Nervous System

The present invention concerns the use of a population of cells comprising : ( a ) neural precursor cells committed to an oligodendroglial fate ; ( b ) uncommitted neural precursor cells ( c ) differentiated oligodendrocytes ; or ( d ) a combina tion of any one of ( a ) to ( c ) for the treatment of CNS autoimmune diseases , or for the preparation of a pharma ceutical composition for treating CNS autoimmune diseases , the population of cells being derived from human pluripo tent stem cells . The invention also provides methods for obtaining such populations of cells , namely , neural precursor cells committed to an oligodendroglial fate as well as differentiated oligodendrocytes which then can be used in the treatment of CNS autoimmune diseases . A preferred autoimmune disease in the context of the present invention is multiple sclerosis where the population of cells is admin istered to the CNS for local treatment of the disease .