METHOD OF PROCESSING DONOR LIVER TO OBTAIN PROGENITOR CELLS

摘要

The instant invention provides, for the first time, the use of cadaveric organs from donors with non-beating hearts as a source of functional cells such as progenitor or stem cells for various medical purposes. More specifically, a method is disclosed whereby a tissue source of progenitor cells is obtained comprising harvesting tissue from a donor, wherein the donor has a non-beating heart for as long as about thirty hours postmortem and processing the cadaveric tissue to provide progenitor cells. The instant progenitors are used for various medical purposes as means of cell therapy, gene therapy, artificial organs, bioreactors, organ regeneration and the like.