Methods to produce differentiation of blood monocytes into functional dendritic cells

摘要

A method for producing dendritic antigen presenting, functional cells comprising the following steps: (a) adding a photoactive agent to an extracorporeal amount of blood from a subject; (b) provide a plastic treatment device with plastic channels that allows light transmittance into the plastic device and a light source that produces light of an appropriate wavelength to activate the photoactivatable agent; (c) pumping the extracorporeal amount of blood through the plastic treatment device with the light source turned off until a first part comprising approximately half of the blood has passed through the treatment device; and (d) turn on the light source and pump the second part of the remaining blood through the plastic treatment device while the blood is exposed to the light generated by the light source to activate the photoactivatable agent; (e) combine the first and second parts of treated blood and incubate the treated blood for a sufficient time that allows the formation of functional dendritic cells.