Xeno-free generation of tissue-specific progenitor cells
The invention relates to purified, tissue-specific progenitors, methods of making and using such tissue-specific progenitors.
1. A method for culturing a malignant cell in vitro, the method comprising the step of:
co-culturing the malignant cell with a CD14 + cell selected from the group consisting of a CD14 + macrophage and a CD14 + mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-educated macrophage such that the malignant cell proliferates.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the malignant cell is co-cultured with the CD14 + cell in the presence of an MSC.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the malignant cell is isolated from a human individual.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the malignant cell is a multiple myeloma cell.
5. A cell culture composition obtained by the method of claim 2 , the composition comprising (i) a CD14 + cell selected from the group consisting of a CD14 + macrophage and a CD14 + mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-educated macrophage, (ii) an MSC, and (iii) a malignant cell.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CD14 + cell is a CD14 + MSC-educated macrophage generated by co-culturing a CD14 + monocyte or CD14 + macrophage with an MSC.