Three-dimensional bioreactor cultures: a useful dynamic model for the study of cellular interactions.

The ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic cells is a developing area with emphasis on bioreactor systems for amelioration of culture conditions. A rational design of bioreactors, especially those allowing microgravity, could permit the production of stem cells and will offer new approaches for studying the mechanisms of proliferation, differentiation, and signal transduction of cultured cells. The efficacy of two commercially available bioreactors (rotating-vessel miniPERM and static INTEGRA CL 350) to support long-term bone marrow cell cultures (LTBMCC) and three-dimensional growth of Hodgkin's lymphoma HD-MY-Z cells was investigated.