Patent ID: 7524679
Filing Date: 2009-04-28
Classification: A61P,C12N,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of producing homogeneous human lung mast cell cultures comprising: partially purifying by elutriation human lung mast cells to at least 13% from human lung tissue; and culturing the partially purified human lung mast cells in the presence of stem cell factor or stem cell factor and interleukin-4 and the absence of interleukin-6 for more than 4 days, wherein the human lung mast cells remain viable for at least several weeks, wherein the human lung mast cells maintain a capacity to divide and proliferate, and wherein proliferation of said mast cells is increased when cultured in the presence of stem cell factor and interleukin-4 as compared to proliferation of human lung mast cells cultured in medium with interleukin-4 added in the absence of stem cell factor and as compared to proliferation of human lung mast cells cultured in medium with stem cell factor added in the absence of interleukin-4.