These cells have longer life span in culture and can be used in a broad range of immunology, virology and other functional studies
MatTek has announced what it says is a breakthrough in dendritic cell production methodology.
The new methodology overcomes many of the problems that previously plagued dendritic cell research. The MatTek dendritic cells (Part DC-100) are phenotypically similar to their in vivo counterparts, and their in vitro function in immunological reactions mimics their in vivo behavior.
These cells have longer life span in culture and can be used in a broad range of immunology, virology and other functional studies.
Dendritic cells (DC) play a key role in the immunological reactions throughout the body.
Dendritic cells and their immature counterparts, Langerhans cells (LC), are highly specialised antigen-presenting cells (APC) located in the skin, mucosa, and lymphoid tissues.
DC and LC play a key role in the induction phase of contact allergenicity, and it is likely that these cells can be used to develop in vitro assays for contact sensitisation and other immunological reactions of the body.
The difficulty in harvesting and the short survival time of DC in culture has prevented their widespread use by researchers. Although improvements have been made, generating large number of cells has remained a limiting factor and the retention of basal (non-primed) functionality of the cells has been difficult to achieve.
Finally, their response to external stimuli has often been inconsistent.
In response to this need, MatTek has developed a new method of generating DC from CD34+ progenitor cells harvested from umbilical cord blood.
The generated DC are typically expanded 200-fold, thereby allowing multiple experiments in which the cell origin and functionality are constant.
The cells express CD1a and HLA-DR, characteristic of DC, and can be maintained for at least 14 days with no significant changes in surface marker expression or functionality.
Transmission electron microscopy showed the presence of Birbeck granules, a key ultrastructural marker of DC and LC.
Upon stimulation with LPS and PMA, a reproducible, significant gene and protein expression was observed; IL-12, MIP-1a, MIP-3a, IL-6, and TNF-a were upregulated.
Further, the DC are infectable with HIV and stimulate heterologous T cells (TC) and autologous TC following exposure to antigen.
