Provided are a composition and a kit for reprogramming cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) into macrophages, and a method of using the same. According to a method of reprogramming CAFs according to an aspect, macrophages may be prepared with a high yield in a short period of time, and the tumor microenvironment may be suppressed and macrophages produced by reprogramming CAF may elimininate cancer cells. Therefore, the macrophages may be usefully applied as an anticancer agent or an anticancer adjuvant.

Preparation and expansion methods for human pluripotent stem cell-derived human retinal pigment epithelial cells are provided. The preparation method includes the following steps: collecting 3D-PRE spheroids derived from human pluripotent stem cells, performing mechanical separation to remove non-RPE cells and clusters which are non-pigmented and retain a pigmented RPE cell sheet, enzymatically digesting the pigmented RPE cell sheet to obtain an RPE single cell suspension, and thereby the human pluripotent stem cell-derived human retinal pigment epithelial cells are obtained. The expansion method includes centrifuging the RPE single cell suspension and removing a supernatant, resuspending in an RPE cell medium and seeding into a cell culture container precoated with extracellular matrix to allow primary culture, and subculturing the cells after cells spread out.

Methods of expanding tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), including peripheral blood lymphocytes and marrow infiltrating lymphocytes, from blood and/or bone marrow of patients with hematological malignancies, such as liquid tumors, including lymphomas and leukemias, and uses of such expanded TILs in the treatment of diseases such as cancers and hematological malignancies are disclosed herein.

The present invention provides a method for maintaining a continuous epithelial structure of a retinal tissue including culturing the retinal tissue in a medium comprising a methyl group donor or a substrate of the methyl group donor at a concentration at which cell differentiation of a neural retinal progenitor cell is suppressed, and a neurite extension inhibitor at a concentration at which neurite extension is suppressed.

The present invention provides a pluripotent stein cell comprising a co-expression vector in which Runx1 and Hoxa9 are of in tandem, and a T cell differentiated therefrom and application thereof. In the present invention, Pluripotent stein cells inducibly co-expressing exogenous Runx1 and Hoxa9 are successfully established by introducing an exogenous vector co-expressing Runx1 and Hoxa9 into pluripotent stein cells. The pluripotent stein cells are directionally differentiated into T-lineage progenitor cells and will be developed into T cells. The pluripotent stein cell-derived T cells obtained by the method of the present invention are not only functionally normal but also have no tumorigenic risk.

Presently disclosed is a method of modulating Hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication, by contacting the cell with at least one agent that modulates at least one factor from a specified group consisting of SNAI2, SOX7 and other factors, the screening of said agent and use thereof in a medicament for treating HBV infection or disease or condition associated with a HBV infection in a subject. In one preferred embodiment, the agent is one peptide derived from SOX7 or SNAI2 or stapled peptides thereof. As a separate invention, a method of identifying at least one factor that modulates replication of a virus is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of autologous human primary hair follicles in 3D cultures, comprising the isolation of primary fetal follicles; isolation of the patient's hair follicle cells; isolation of skin cells of the patient's scalp; extraction of growth factors from fetal follicle cells; the fibrin gel creation that contains growth factors of fetal follicles; sandwich cultivation of patient's hair follicle cells and skin of the patients scalp on or into fibrin gel that contains growth factors of fetal follicles; separation from fibrin gel the patients primary hair follicles, which can be used to treat baldness as an autologous graft.

Disclosed herein are bioreactor systems and methods of utilizing said systems.

An ex-vivo culturing method of osteoblasts for implantation, comprising a culturing of adult live osteoblasts as an ex-vivo procedure. The ex-vivo culture, which leads to the formation of the active substance, further comprises the steps of isolation of osteo-progenitor cells, differentiation of osteo-progenitor cells in to osteoblasts, expansion culture, cell culture harvest and wash followed by filling and packaging. This method is instrumental in accelerating the process of bone formation.

The present invention contemplates compositions, devices and methods of simulating biological fluids in a fluidic device, including but not limited to a microfluidic chip. In one embodiment, fluid comprising a colloid under flow in a microfluidic chip has a fluid density or viscosity similar to a bodily fluid, e.g. blood, lymph, lung fluid, or the like. In one embodiment, a fluid is provided as a rheologically biomimetic blood surrogate or substitute for simulating physiological shear stress and cell dynamics in fluidic device, including but not limited to immune cells.