Immortalized cell lines and methods of making the same
AssigneeVitro Diagnostics, Inc.
InventorsJames R. Musick, John Charles Gill, IV, Bruce P. Burnett, Tammy E. Hedlund
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Abstract
The present invention relates to methods of immortalizing various primary cell cultures, including pituitary cells, neurons, beta islet cells, glial cells, corneal epithelial cells and follicular stellate cells. The primary cells are transfected with a vector containing an establishment oncogene, resulting in non-transformed immortalized cells. The primary cells and/or the subsequent immortalized cells are cultured in a defined media containing one or more environmental factor(s) that control the proliferation and/or differentiation of the cells.
Claims38
A method of immortalizing non-transforrned cells comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining a primary culture of cells;
- (b) transfecting said primary cells with a vector containing a foreign gene to produce transfected, immortalized cells that are not transformed;
- and
- (c) isolating said transfected cells from non-transfected cells to obtain a culture of immortalized cells, wherein said immortalized cells are pituitary cells or follicular stellate cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.