Cell separation method

Abstract

A cell separation method comprising steps of introducing a cell-containing fluid containing cells to be recovered and cells to be removed, into a cell-capturing means capable of substantially capturing the cells to be recovered and substantially permitting passage therethrough of cells to be removed; taking out the resulting fluid containing the cells to be removed, from the cell-capturing means; and then introducing a liquid with a viscosity of not more than 500 mPa·s and not less than 5 mPa·s into the cell-capturing means to recover therefrom the cells to be recovered which have been captured by the cell-capturing means.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A liquid containing hematopoietic stem cells which is substantially free from erythrocytes and platelets, and which has a viscosity of not more than 500 mPa·s and not less than 5 mPa·s.  
     
     
         2 . A cell-containing fluid according to    claim 1   , which contains at least one cryopreservative agent.  
     
     
         3 . A cell-containing fluid according to    claim 2   , wherein the cryopreservative agent is one of an extracellular cryoprotectant and an intracellular cryoprotectant.  
     
     
         4 . A cell-containing fluid according to    claim 1   , which contains dextran.  
     
     
         5 . A liquid containing cells to be recovered and substantially no cells to be removed which is obtained by a cell separation method comprising steps of introducing a cell-containing fluid containing cells to be recovered and cells to be removed into a cell-capturing means capable of substantially capturing said cells to be recovered and substantially permitting passage therethrough of said cells to be removed; taking out the resulting fluid containing the cells to be removed from said cell-capturing means; and then introducing a liquid with a viscosity of not more than 500 mPa·s and not less than 5 mPa·s into said cell-capturing means to recover therefrom said cells to be recovered which have been captured by said cell-capturing means.  
     
     
         6 . A liquid for recovering captured cells from a cell-capturing means which has a viscosity of not more than 500 mpa·s and not less than 5 mPa·s.  
     
     
         7 . A liquid for recovery according to    claim 6   , which can be used also as a preservative for the cells.  
     
     
         8 . A liquid for recovery according to    claim 7   , wherein the preservation of the cells is cryopreservation.  
     
     
         9 . A liquid for recovery according to    claim 6   , which is a solution containing dextran.  
     
     
         10 . A liquid for recovery according to    claim 6   , wherein the cells are a mononuclear cell fraction containing hematopoietic stem cells.  
     
     
         11 . A liquid for recovery according to    claim 6   , wherein the cells are hematopoietic stem cells.