Abstract:
The invention describes a novel method for cultivating cell cultures comprising a plurality of progenitor cells, wherein the method comprises one or several steps selected from the group of expansion of the progenitor cells and modification of the progenitor cells of the cell culture in a culture medium. To ensure a rapid and continuous cultivation of these particular cells, it is suggested to use a cell culture provided essentially in the form of single cells and/or agglomerates with weak cell-cell interactions caused by the external influence of the culture medium leaving the majority of progenitor cells remains intact when the agglomerates are to be converted/transformed into single cells. Preferably the expansion and/or modification of the progenitor cells occurs under cell culture conditions which block at least partially the cellular receptors responsible for intercellular adhesion. The culture medium can comprise a Ca2null concentration of null0.5 mmol/l and/or inhibitors, important for cell-cell interactions of cell specific membrane bound receptors.
Abstract:
Disclosed are compositions comprising a recombinant nucleic acid vector including a nucleotide sequence encoding a syncytium-inducing polypeptide expressible on a eukaryotic cell surface, and a host cell containing the recombinant vector and expressing the syncytium inducing polypeptide on its cell surface, the vectors and resultant host cells expressing the syncytium inducing polypeptide being useful for selective elimination of unwanted cells,
Abstract:
The invention provides an immunogenic or antigenic polypeptide containing a translocation domain, a peptide epitope, at least one biologically active agent, and cleavage sites. These polypeptides are useful for activating T cell responses.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to the use of therapeutic compounds in the modification of T-cell, T-cell-antigen presenting cell (APC) interactions and the interactions between pathogenic organisms and immunocompetent cells of a host. In particular it relates to the use of these compounds in the modulation of the interaction between Notch proteins and their ligands and to the use of such compounds in the therapy of conditions such as graft rejection, autoimmunity, allergy, and asthma and infectious diseases.
Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to methods for activating and expanding cells, and more particularly, to a novel method to activate and/or stimulate cells that maximizes the expansion of such cells to achieve dramatically high densities. In the various embodiments, cells are activated and expanded to very high densities in a short period of time. In certain embodiments, cells are activated and expanded to very high numbers of cells in a short period of time. Compositions of cells activated and expanded by the methods herein are further provided.
Abstract:
Methods are provided for producing a population of substantially purified CD4null Th1 lymphocytes. The method includes stimulating a population of substantially purified CD4null T cells isolated from a subject by contacting the population with an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody and an antibody that specifically binds to a T cell costimulatory molecule in the presence of a Th1 supportive environment to form a stimulated population of T cells. The stimulated population of CD4null T cells is allowed to proliferate in a Th1 supportive environment. In one example, the Th1 supportive environment includes at least 20 IU/ml of IL-2, for example about 1000 I.U./ml of IL-2, and a neutralizing amount of an IL-4, an IL-13, and/or an IL-4/IL-13 neutralizing agent. In other examples, the supportive environment further includes at least 1 ng/ml of IL-12, for example about 2.5 ng/ml of IL-12. Purified populations of Th1 cells are disclosed herein, as are methods for their use.
Abstract:
This invention provides: a therapeutic agent for graft rejection, graft-versus-host disease, autoimmune disease, allergic disease, or other diseases comprising dendritic cells (DCs) induced under culture conditions comprising both IL-10 and TGF-null or DCs prepared by adding inflammatory stimulation (e.g., TNF-null or LPS) to the aforementioned DCs and, if necessary, an antigen associated with a target disease; a method of inducing human immunoregulatory dendritic cells by culturing human dendritic cells or their precursor cells in vitro with cytokines comprising at least IL-10 and TGF-null; human immunoregulatory dendritic cells obtained by such method; and a pharmaceutical composition comprising such human immunoregulatory dendritic cells.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an improved method for administering live cells to a patient and compositions useful in the method. The composition comprises live cells and biocompatible, biodegradable polymer microparticles. The cells and microparticles of the cell/microparticle composition can be contacted immediately prior to administration, or can be contacted in culture for a specified period of time prior to administration. In the method of the invention, an effective amount of the cell/microparticle composition is administered to a patient in need thereof by injection to a treatment site of the patient to provide a therapeutic effect in the patient. The therapeutic effect can be, for example, the formation of new tissue at the treatment site, or the production and secretion of a biologically active secretory molecule at the treatment site. The therapeutic effect resulting from injection of the cell/microparticle composition into a treatment site, is determined by the type of cell present in the composition. The composition comprising lives cells and biocompatible, biodegradable polymer microparticles can further comprise a biologically active agent. In a preferred embodiment, the biologically active agent is incorporated into the microparticle. The biologically active agent can be, for example, factors which modulate cell growth.
Abstract:
A culture medium, which is capable of sustaining long-term cultures of hepatocytes and liver cells. In this medium, mammalian primary hepatocytes retain highly replicative capacity and hepatic gene expression activity. The liver cells from genetically defined sources may be reproducibly immortalized without the delivery of foreign genes, such as viral oncogenes. The immortalized hepatocytes are non-tumorigenic, making them suitable for clinical and therapeutic purposes.