Abstract:
Dendritic cells are of interest therapeutically as antigen-presenting cells. A process is disclosed in which peripheral blood cells are first isolated and the CD 34 antigen-expressing blood progenitor cells which they contain are then enriched. These enriched cells are expanded ex-vivo using a combination of haematopoietic growth factors and cytokines. Over a period of 10-20 days, they give rise, in particular to dendritic cells which, where appropriate, can be purified still further. These cells are functionally active with regard to the ability to present antigen.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a process for preparing clonogenic fibroblasts, with tissue being removed from the donor and the individual cells being isolated from the tissue, the resulting cell suspension being strained, the cells which are contained in the cell suspension being washed and the cells being converted into a tissue culture, with the exception of the isolation of individual cells by mechanical comminution, followed by an enzymic treatment with collagenase alone, and with at least one gene being inserted into the fibroblasts by means of the transfection, which gene encodes a biologically active protein, preferably a therapeutically active protein, for example a growth factor, a hormone, an enzyme, a coagulation factor or a coagulation inhibitor.