Provided is a method of inducing oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) through direct reprogramming from human somatic cells into which a nucleic acid molecule encoding an Oct4 protein or Oct4 protein-treated human somatic cells. The method of inducing OPCs by treating Oct4-overexpressing human somatic cells with a low molecular weight substance may establish OPCs with high efficiency in a short period of time through direct reprogramming without via neural stem cells, and thus the OPCs are useful as a cell therapeutic agent for an intractable demyelinating disease.

Methods and materials are described for producing immortalized hybrid cells composed of a fusion of immortalized multi-lineage progenitor cells (MLPC) and primary hepatocytes. The hybrid cells express the biological activity of the primary hepatocytes and the immortality and expansion capacities of the immortalized MLPC. The methods of culture and expansion of the resultant hybrid cells and the methods to confirm the characteristics of the hybrid cells are described.

The present invention includes methods for effecting phenotype conversion in a cell by transfecting the cell with phenotype-converting nucleic acid. Expression of the nucleic acids results in a phenotype conversion in the transfected cell. Preferably the phenotype-converting nucleic acid is a transcriptome, and more preferably an mRNA transcriptome.

The bioink disclosed herein includes one or more cells, a carrier material, and microspheres. The microspheres can include one or more biodegradable polymers and one or more compounds, such as a morphogenic compound. The methods disclosed herein can include three-dimensional bioprinting. Additional methods disclosed herein include producing functional tissue.

Methods of differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into hematopoietic precursor cells, wherein the method is carried out under suspension agitation, and wherein a GSK-3-inhibitor or a Wnt pathway activator is added during a stage of mesoderm induction, and cell culture media for use in the methods, as well as kits for performing the same.

Provided is a method of inducing oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) through direct reprogramming from human somatic cells into which a nucleic acid molecule encoding an Oct4 protein or Oct4 protein-treated human somatic cells. The method of inducing OPCs by treating Oct4-overexpressing human somatic cells with a low molecular weight substance may establish OPCs with high efficiency in a short period of time through direct reprogramming without via neural stem cells, and thus the OPCs are useful as a cell therapeutic agent for an intractable demyelinating disease.

The present invention provides recombinant adenoviral compositions and methods for their use in treating disorders associated with epithelial tissues.

Disclosed is a method for producing a large amount of natural killer cells and the use of the natural killer cells as an anticancer agent. The method produces fresh NK cells with high purity within a short time, and can also produce cold-preserved NK cells and thawed cryopreserved NK cells having efficacy comparable to the fresh NK cells. NK cells having efficacy comparable to the fresh NK cells can also be produced from cryopreserved CD3-negative cells. The fresh NK cells, cold-preserved NK cells and cryopreserved NK cells exhibit therapeutic effects against various cancers, including colorectal cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer and leukemia, indicating these NK cells are effective as cellular therapeutic agents. Also disclosed are doses and methods of administration that show excellent effects when the fresh NK cells, cold-preserved NK cells and cryopreserved NK cells are used as pharmaceutical compositions for cellular therapy.

The present invention includes methods for effecting phenotype conversion in a cell by transfecting the cell with phenotype-converting nucleic acid. Expression of the nucleic acids results in a phenotype conversion in the transfected cell. Preferably the phenotype-converting nucleic acid is a transcriptome, and more preferably an mRNA transcriptome.

Embodiments herein include methods for enhancing post-ischemic functional recovery through administration of mitochondria and related devices and methods. In an embodiment, a method for enhancing post-ischemic functional recovery is included. The method can include harvesting somatic cells from a patient or a donor, converting the somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells, extracting mitochondria from the induced pluripotent stem cells, and transplanting the mitochondria into the patient. Other embodiments are also included herein.