The present invention relates to host cells that can function as neurons
which are obtained by introducing and expressing von Hippel-Lindau gene
in cancer cells, such as neuroblastoma cells and anaplastic oncocytes
derived from the nerve system, or embryonic stem cells. The obtained
hosts that have grown in vitro are grafted to the central nerve system or
peripheral nerves to take so as to allow the host cells to function as
neurons, thereby treating intractable neuronal diseases associated with
neurological functional disorder, such as Parkinson's disease,
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's chorea, Alzheimer's disease,
brain infarction, spinal cord injury, brain contusion or malignant tumor.