Apparatus and method for co-culturing of cells

Abstract

A co-culture apparatus and method for, among other things, converting a progenitor cell line into a target cell line. The apparatus comprises an exterior receptacle, a removable cartridge that fits into the exterior receptacle, and a closure member to seal the apparatus. The invention is also directed to a method for transforming a progenitor cell line into a target cell line. In one embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the steps of: establishing a progenitor cell line; establishing a support cell line; co-culturing said progenitor and support cell lines; establishing a transformation cell line; and co-culturing said progenitor and transformation cell lines, wherein the transformation cell line supports the transformation of the progenitor cell line into a target cell line.

1 - 10 . (canceled)  
     
     
         11 . A method of transforming a progenitor cell line into a target cell line, comprising the steps of: 
 establishing a progenitor cell line;    establishing a support cell line;    co-culturing said progenitor and support cell lines;    establishing a transformation cell line; and    co-culturing said progenitor and transformation cell lines, wherein said transformation cell line supports the transformation of said progenitor cell line into a target cell line.    
     
     
         12 . The method of transforming a progenitor cell line into a target cell line according to  claim 11 , wherein said target cell line is a population of cardiomyocytes.  
     
     
         13 . The method of transforming a progenitor cell line into a target cell line according to  claim 11 , wherein target cells of said target cell line are used to treat a patient, wherein said patient is a human patient.  
     
     
         14 . The method of transforming a progenitor cell line into a target cell line according to  claim 11 , wherein target cells of said target cell line are used to treat a patient, wherein said patient is an animal patient.  
     
     
         15 . A method of transforming a progenitor cell line into a target cell line, comprising the steps of: 
 establishing a progenitor cell line;    establishing a support cell line;    co-culturing said progenitor and support cell lines;    establishing a first transformation cell line;    co-culturing said progenitor and first transformation cell lines;    establishing a second transformation cell line; and    co-culturing said progenitor and second transformation cell lines, wherein said first and second transformation cell lines produce cell metabolites that transform said progenitor cell line.