Embodiments of the disclosure encompass methods of increasing insulin sensitivity in an individual in need thereof. The increase in insulin sensitivity may derive from individuals that have diabetes, aging, low grade inflammation, obesity, pregnancy, metabolic syndrome X, congenital abnormality or a combination thereof. In specific embodiments, the methods encompass providing to an individual an effective amount of fibroblast cells of certain kinds.

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.

The present invention relates to a method of culturing primitive macrophages from stem cells. Specifically, the method comprises contacting and incubating stem cells with a serum-free culture media comprising a GSK3 inhibitor to differentiate stem cells into cell of the mesoderm lineage, contacting and incubating cells of the mesoderm lineage with a culture media comprising DKK1 to differentiate the cells into the hematopoietic lineage, maturing the cells of the hematopoietic lineage and contacting and incubating these cells with a culture media comprising M-CSF to drive differentiation into primitive-like macrophages. The invention also relates to a primitive-like macrophage, use of the primitive-like macrophage and a kit when used in the method of the invention.

The present disclosure generally regards methods and compositions for providing multi-lineage hematopoietic precursor cells from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). The PSCs comprise an expression construct encoding an ETS/ERG gene, GATA2 and HOXA9. Also provided are methods for providing hematopoietic stem cells capable of long-term engraftment in mammals, such as humans. Further provided are therapeutic compositions including the provided hematopoietic stem cells and precursors of hematopoietic cells, and methods of using such for the treatment of subjects.

Provided is a method for gene editing of an enhancer site of the BCL11A in hematopoietic stem cells. The genetically modified hematopoietic stem cells have the functions of normal cells, and can significantly increase the expression of fetal hemoglobin so as to be used in the treatment of thalassemia and sickle cell anemia.

The present invention provides methods of producing in vitro derived neutrophils or macrophages in xenogen- and serum-free conditions from pluripotent stem cells and in vitro derived populations of neutrophils and macrophages. Methods of treatment using in vitro derived neutrophils or macrophages are also contemplated.

Provided herein are methods of generating a population of enucleated erythroid cells.

The present invention relates in part to nucleic acids encoding proteins, nucleic acids containing non-canonical nucleotides, therapeutics comprising nucleic acids, methods, kits, and devices for inducing cells to express proteins, methods, kits, and devices for transfecting, gene editing, and reprogramming cells, and cells, organisms, and therapeutics produced using these methods, kits, and devices. Methods for inducing cells to express proteins and for reprogramming and gene-editing cells using RNA are disclosed. Methods for producing cells from patient samples, cells produced using these methods, and therapeutics comprising cells produced using these methods are also disclosed.

Provided is a method for genetically editing an enhancer locus of hematopoietic stem cell BCL11A, comprising: disrupting the CTTCCT region of a BCL11A genome by gene editing technology. The genetically edited hematopoietic stem cells have normal cell functions and can significantly increase the expression of fetal hemoglobin, thereby being used for the treatment of thalassemia and sickle cell anemia.

The present invention relates in part to nucleic acids encoding proteins, nucleic acids containing non-canonical nucleotides, therapeutics comprising nucleic acids, methods, kits, and devices for inducing cells to express proteins, methods, kits, and devices for transfecting, gene editing, and reprogramming cells, and cells, organisms, and therapeutics produced using these methods, kits, and devices. Methods for inducing cells to express proteins and for reprogramming and gene-editing cells using RNA are disclosed. Methods for producing cells from patient samples, cells produced using these methods, and therapeutics comprising cells produced using these methods are also disclosed.