Patent ID: 6146890
Filing Date: 2000-11-14
Classification: A61K,C12N

Abstract:
A method for differentiating monocytes into macrophages comprising the steps ofa) providing white blood cells including monocytes;b) differentiating said monocytes into macrophages by osmotically shocking said white blood cells by mixing said white blood cells with distilled water having a volume greater than that of said white blood cells for a period of about 30-90 seconds, in the absence of an additional differentiation-enhancing substance; andc) re-establishing isotonicity in the mixture of said white blood cells and said distilled water by mixing a hypertonic solution with said distilled water and said white blood cells thereby creating an isotonic solution of said white blood cells, said isotonic solution having a saline concentration, said hypertonic solution comprising approximately one tenth of the volume of the distilled water used and approximately ten times the saline concentration of the isotonic solution.