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The present invention provides tangential flow filtration devices and methods for enriching a heterogeneous mixture of blood constituents for leukocytes by removal of non-leukocyte blood constituents. In one particular embodiment the device can provide a composition enriched in monocytes. One embodi

The present invention provides tangential flow filtration devices and methods for enriching a heterogeneous mixture of blood constituents for leukocytes by removal of non-leukocyte blood constituents. In one particular embodiment the device can provide a composition enriched in monocytes. One embodiment includes a remover unit (1) having a crossflow chamber (3) separated by a microporous filter (5) from a filtrate chamber (4), the remover unit (1) also having a tangential flow inlet (6), a fluid outlet (7) for a fluid enriched in leukocytes and a filtrate outlet (8).

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What is claimed is: 1. A tangential flow filtration device for preparing a cell population enriched for leukocytes, comprising: a remover unit having a cross-flow chamber, a filtrate chamber and a filter disposed therebetween the filter having a retentate surface and a filtrate surface, the filter

What is claimed is: 1. A tangential flow filtration device for preparing a cell population enriched for leukocytes, comprising: a remover unit having a cross-flow chamber, a filtrate chamber and a filter disposed therebetween the filter having a retentate surface and a filtrate surface, the filter in fluid communication with the cross-flow chamber and the filtrate chamber; the cross-flow chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet disposed to introduce the cell population comprising a sample of blood constituents comprising leukocytes into the cross-flow chamber and parallel to the retentate surface of the filter; and the outlet centrally disposed in a portion of the cross-flow chamber opposite the filter retentate surface; the filter having an average pore size ranging from about 1 to about 10 microns; such that flow of the sample of blood constituents across the filter enriches the cell population comprising the sample of blood constituents for leukocytes. 2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising: a means for providing a predetermined input rate of the sample to the inlet of the cross-flow chamber; a means for controlling a filtration rate of filtrate through the filter and into the filtrate chamber; and wherein the filtration rate controlling means limits the filtration rate to less than the unopposed filtration rate for the filter. 3. The device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the filter pore size is about 3 microns to about 7 microns. 4. The device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the filter pore size is about 3 microns to about 5.5 microns. 5. The device according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising: a source of the cell population comprising the blood constituents in fluid communication with the cross-flow chamber inlet. 6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the cell population comprising the source of blood constituents is a leukopheresis device. 7. The device according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising: a recovery unit comprising an inlet and an outlet, the cross-flow chamber and the recovery unit interconnected in loop format, wherein the cross-flow chamber inlet is in fluid communication with the recovery unit outlet, and the cross-flow chamber outlet is in fluid communication with the recovery unit inlet. 8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the recovery unit further comprises a sample inlet and a wash inlet. 9. The device according to claim 8, further comprising a source of replacement liquid in fluid communication with the wash inlet. 10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the replacement liquid is an isotonic buffer or tissue culture media. 11. The device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cross-flow chamber is cylindrical and the outlet is located opposite the center of the filter and perpendicular to a surface of the filter. 12. The device according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a cell-processing apparatus in fluid communication with the remover unit. 13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the cell processing apparatus comprises beads. 14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the cell processing apparatus comprises a means for culturing the cell population enriched for leukocytes. 15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the means for culturing comprises: a vessel having a first port and a second port; a monocytic dendritic cell precursor adhering substrate, the substrate in fluid communication with the first port and the second port; a screen for retaining the substrate within the vessel, the screen having a pore size sufficient to allow passage of monocytic dendritic cell precursors and dendritic cells therethrough; a drain line in fluid communication with the first port; and a collection line in fluid communication with the first port. 16. The device according to claim 15, further comprising a plurality of fluid sources in fluid communication with the first port or the second port. 17. The device according to claim 15, further comprising a sealable tissue culture vessel adapted to aseptically receive the monocytic dendritic cell precursors. 18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the sealable tissue culture vessel is a tissue culture bag, flask or bioreactor. 19. The device according to claim 15, wherein the fluid sources comprise binding media, washing buffer and elution buffer. 20. The device according to claim 15, further comprising a pump in fluid communication with the plurality of fluid sources and the first port. 21. The device according to claim 15, further comprising: a temperature control means to maintain the substrate at a predetermined temperature. 22. The device according to claim 21, wherein the temperature controlling means is a heater. 23. A tangential flow device for enriching a cell population comprising a sample of blood constituents for leukocytes, comprising: a remover unit comprising a cross-flow chamber (3) and a filtrate chamber (4) separated by a filter (5), wherein the cross-flow chamber (3) has an inlet (6) and an outlet (7), the outlet centrally disposed in an upper portion of the chamber, and wherein the inlet is disposed above the filter and introduces fluid into the cross-flow chamber substantially parallel to the filter; a means for providing a predetermined input rate (14) of the cell population comprising the sample through the cross-flow chamber inlet; and a means for reducing a filtration rate (15) through the filter; wherein the filter has a pore size of about 3 microns to about 7 microns; and whereby the cell population comprising the sample is enriched for leukocytes in a retentate in the cross-flow chamber. 24. A tangential flow device for enriching cell population comprising a sample comprising blood constituents for leukocytes, comprising: a remover unit (1) having a cross-flow chamber (3) and a filtrate chamber (4) separated by a filter (5), the cross-flow chamber having an inlet (6) and an outlet (7), the outlet disposed above the inlet and centrally disposed in an upper portion of the chamber, and wherein the filter is disposed below and substantially parallel to the cross-flow chamber inlet; means for providing a predetermined input rate (14) of the sample through the cell population comprising the sample through the cross-flow chamber inlet; means for providing a predetermined filtration rate (15) of the fluid through the filter, wherein the predetermined filtration rate is about one-fifth to about one one-hundredth of the predetermined input rate; and means for providing a predetermined concentration of blood cells in the sample, wherein the predetermined concentration of blood cells is about 107 to about 1010 cells per milliliter; wherein the filter has pores having a pore size of about 3 microns to about 7 microns; and whereby the sample is enriched for leukocytes in a retentate in the cross-flow chamber. 25. A method for separating leukocytes from a cell population comprising a sample of blood constituents from a subject wherein the sample comprises leukocytes, the method comprising: (1) introducing the sample into a remover unit wherein the remover unit comprises a cross-flow chamber, a filtrate chamber and a filter disposed therebetween, the filter having a retentate surface and a filtrate surface, the filter in fluid communication with the cross-flow chamber and the filtrate chamber; the cross-flow chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet disposed to introduce the cell population comprising the sample of blood constituents comprising the leukocytes from a source into the cross-flow chamber and parallel to the retentate surface of the filter, and the outlet centrally disposed in a portion of the cross-flow chamber opposite the filter retentate surface; (2) subjecting the sample to cross-flow substantially parallel to a filter having a pore size of about 1 to about 10 microns; (3) subjecting the fluid to filtration through the filter; and (4) selectively removing non-leukocyte blood constituents from the sample through the filter and removing the leukocytes through the centrally disposed outlet to form a cell population enriched for leukocytes. 26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising: preparing the sample from the subject by leukopheresis, density centrifugation, differential lysis, filtration, or preparation of a buffy coat, for introduction in the remover unit. 27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the non-leukocyte blood constituents include plasma and platelets. 28. The method according to claim 25, wherein the non-leukocyte blood constituents include erythrocytes. 29. The method according to claim 25, wherein the leukocytes comprise monocytes. 30. The method according to claim 25, further comprising repeating steps (1), (2), and (3) at least two times to form cell population enriched for leukocytes. 31. The method according to claim 25, wherein the enriched cell population comprises at least about 20% leukocytes. 32. The method according to claim 25, wherein the enriched cell population comprises at least about 60% leukocytes. 33. The method according to claim 25, further comprising inducing a vortex motion of the sample in the cross-flow chamber. 34. The method according to claim 25, further comprising washing the cell population enriched for leukocytes with a wash solution. 35. A method for enriching a cell population comprising a sample of blood constituents for leukocytes, comprising: (1) introducing the cell population comprising the sample into a tangential flow filtration (TFF) unit, the TFF unit comprising a cross-flow chamber, a filtrate chamber, and a filter in fluid communication with the cross-flow chamber and the filtrate chamber, the filter having a retentate surface and a filtrate surface, the cross-flow chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet disposed to introduce the cell population comprising the sample of blood constituents comprising leukocytes from a source into the cross-flow chamber and parallel to the retentate surface of the filter, and the outlet centrally disposed in a portion of the cross-flow chamber opposite the filter retentate surface; the filter having a pore size of about 1 to about 10 microns; (2) recirculating the sample through the TFF unit at a predetermined input rate and a predetermined filtration rate, the predetermined input rate at least five times the predetermined filtration rate; wherein the predetermined filtration rate is less than the unopposed filtration rate for the filter; and (3) isolating a cell population enriched for leukocytes through the outlet centrally disposed in the portion of the cross-flow chamber opposite the filter retentate surface. 36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the enriched cell population is substantially free of non-leukocyte blood constituents. 37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the non-leukocyte blood constituents include erythrocytes. 38. The method according to claim 35, further comprising: collecting blood from a subject and preparing the sample from the blood by leukopheresis, density centrifugation, differential lysis, filtration, or preparation of a buffy coat. 39. The method according to claim 35, wherein the non-leukocyte blood constituents include plasma and platelets. 40. The method according to claim 35, wherein the leukocytes comprise monocytes. 41. The method according to claim 35, wherein the enriched cell population comprises at least about 20% leukocytes. 42. The method according to claim 35, wherein the enriched cell population comprises at least about 60% leukocytes. 43. The method according to claim 35, wherein the sample flows in a vortex motion in the cross-flow chamber. 44. The method according to claim 35, further comprising washing the enriched cell population with a wash solution. 45. The method according to claim 35, wherein the filter has a pore size of about 3 to about 5.5 microns.