Progenitor cell populations, expansion thereof, and growth of non-hematopoietic cell types and tissues therefrom
View Patent ↗Described is a method of expanding human progenitor cells by suspension culturing under non-static conditions. The culturing method provides a three-dimensional space for the rapid expansion of desirable progenitors. By this method, a new compartment of multipotential progenitor cells has been identified, which give rise under differentiation conditions to progeny including osteoblasts, chondrocytes, myoblasts, adipocytes, and other non-hematopoietic cell types. Their use in cell and tissue-based engineering is described.
1. A method for expanding human bone marrow derived mesenchymal progenitor cells comprising the step of culturing said mesenchymal progenitor cells under non-static conditions such that said mesenchymal progenitor cells are expanded without adherence to the surface of the container in which the cells are cultured.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said mesenchymal progenitor cells are expanded in a culture medium containing stem cell factor and interleukin-3.
3. The method of either of claim 1 or 2 wherein the mesenchymal progenitor cells are not adherence-selected prior to expansion.