Abstract: The invention provides culture systems for the generation, expansion and isolation of regulatory T cells. These culture systems can be used to screen for factors that modulate regulatory T cell development. Regulatory T cells derived from such cultures can be used in various in vitro and in vivo applications, as can culture populations depleted of such cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for lymphoid tissue-specific cell production from hematopoietic progenitor cells in unique, three-dimensional culture devices, in the presence of antigen presenting cells and lymphoreticular stromal cells, and in the absence of exogenously added growth factors. The resulting lymphoid tissue-specific cells may be isolated at any sequential stage of differentiation and further expanded. The lymphoid tissue-specific cells also may be genetically altered at any stage of the process.

Abstract: The invention pertains to methods and devices for the long term, in vitroculture of hematopoietic progenitor cells in the absence of exogenously added hematopoietic growth factors, improved methods for the introduction of foreign genetic material into cells of hematopoietic origin, and to apparatus for performing these methods. The hematopoietic progenitor cells are cultured on a three-dimensional porous biomaterial. The three-dimensional porous biomaterial enhances hematopoietic progenitor cell survival and leads to an expansion of progenitor cell numbers and/or functionality, while maintaining progenitor cell pluripotency in the absence of exogenous growth factors. In addition, the three-dimensional porous biomaterial supports high level transduction on cells cultured upon such environment.

Abstract: A power supply capable of making soft start efficiently. A power supply (10) is such that the time lag from the soft start trigger representing the start of soft start control to the actual soft start can be decreased by offsetting the potential of a soft start signal from the ground potential. The offset is slightly lower than the minimum potential of a triangular signal. The highest potential level of the soft start signal is preferably lower than the power supply potential.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for lymphoid tissue-specific cell production from hematopoietic progenitor cells in unique, three-dimensional culture devices, in the presence of antigen presenting cells and lymphoreticular stromal cells, and in the absence of exogenously added growth factors. The resulting lymphoid tissue-specific cells may be isolated at any sequential stage of differentiation and further expanded. The lymphoid tissue-specific cells also may be genetically altered at any stage of the process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to culturing devices that are compact, utilize small amounts of cell culture media to establish and maintain cell cultures, and produce a large number of cells in a short period of time when compared to other cell culturing devices and techniques. Such devices are useful in the culture of all cell types, but are particularly useful in the culture of cells that are known in the art to be difficult to culture, including cells that lose one or more of their particular attributes/characteristics (e.g., pluripotentiality), or cells that are difficult to establish cultures of (e.g., primary cells), during culturing in traditional cell culture devices.

Abstract: The invention pertains to methods and devices for the long term, in vitroculture of hematopoietic progenitor cells in the absence of exogenously added hematopoietic growth factors, improved methods for the introduction of foreign genetic material into cells of hematopoietic origin, and to apparatus for performing these methods. The hematopoietic progenitor cells are cultured on a three-dimensional porous biomaterial. The three-dimensional porous biomaterial enhances hematopoietic progenitor cell survival and leads to an expansion of progenitor cell numbers and/or functionality, while maintaining progenitor cell pluripotency in the absence of exogenous growth factors. In addition, the three-dimensional porous biomaterial supports high level transduction on cells cultured upon such environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to culturing devices that are compact, utilize small amounts of cell culture media to establish and maintain cell cultures, and produce a large number of cells in a short period of time when compared to other cell culturing devices and techniques. Such devices are useful in the culture of all cell types, but are particularly useful in the culture of cells that are known in the art to be difficult to culture, including cells that lose one or more of their particular attributes/characteristics (e.g., pluripotentiality), or cells that are difficult to establish cultures of (e.g., primary cells), during culture in traditional cell culture devices.

Abstract: The invention pertains to methods and devices for the long term, in vitroculture of hematopoietic progenitor cells in the absence of exogenously added hematopoietic growth factors, improved methods for the introduction of foreign genetic material into cells of hematopoietic origin, and to apparatus for performing these methods. The hematopoietic progenitor cells are cultured on a three-dimensional porous biomaterial. The three-dimensional porous biomaterial enhances hematopoietic progenitor cell survival and leads to an expansion of progenitor cell numbers and/or functionality, while maintaining progenitor cell pluripotency in the absence of exogenous growth factors. In addition, the three-dimensional porous biomaterial supports high level transduction on cells cultured upon such environment.

Abstract: The invention pertains to methods and devices for the long term, in vitroculture of hematopoietic progenitor cells in the absence of exogenously added hematopoietic growth factors, improved methods for the introduction of foreign genetic material into cells of hematopoietic origin, and to apparatus for performing these methods. The hematopoietic progenitor cells are cultured on a three-dimensional porous biomaterial. The three-dimensional porous biomaterial enhances hematopoietic progenitor cell survival and leads to an expansion of progenitor cell numbers and/or functionality, while maintaining progenitor cell pluripotency in the absence of exogenous growth factors. In addition, the three-dimensional porous biomaterial supports high level transduction on cells cultured upon such environment.

Abstract: The invention pertains to methods and devices for the long term, in vitro culture of hematopoietic progenitor cells in the absence of exogenously added hematopoietic growth factors, improved methods for the introduction of foreign genetic material into cells of hematopoietic origin, and to apparatus for performing these methods. The hematopoietic progenitor cells are cultured on a three-dimensional porous biomaterial. The three-dimensional porous biomaterial enhances hematopoietic progenitor cell survival and leads to an expansion of progenitor cell numbers and/or functionality, while maintaining progenitor cell pluripotency in the absence of exogenous growth factors. In addition, the three-dimensional porous biomaterial supports high level transduction on cells cultured upon such environment.