A population of early-stage burst-forming unit-eryhtoid (BFU-E) cells characterized by low expression of the Type III Transforming Growth Factor β Receptor (TGFRPIII) and uses thereof for producing red blood cells in vitro, genotoxicity analysis of chemicals, drug sensitivity assessment, and drug development. Also described herein are methods for producing the population of early-stage BFU-E cells and methods for producing red blood cells.

The present invention provides means for producing an organoid close to an organ in a living body and capable of secretion of a plasma protein and immune response. A matrix composition of the present invention provided as such means includes: (1) a first matrix containing one or more cells selected from the group consisting of vascular cells, nerve cells, and blood cells; and (2) a second matrix containing to cells constituting an organ and/or an organoid, in which the first matrix envelops the second matrix, and the first matrix has at least one opening.

The present invention relates to a method for treating hemoglobinopathy in an individual, comprising: (a) an evaluation step: the evaluation step comprises evaluating the ability of a first population of modified CD34-positive hematopoietic stem cells/progenitor cells to produce a desired level of γ-globin or fetal hemoglobin after differentiation, the modified CD34-positive HSPCs of the first population being derived from the individual and being modified to reduce BCL11A function; and (b) a treatment step: the treatment step comprises administering to the individual a second population of modified CD34-positive HSPCs, the modified CD34-positive HSPCs being derived from the individual and being modified to reduce BCL11A function. At the same time, the invention also relates to a method for treating hemoglobinopathy in individuals, a method for selecting individuals suffering from hemoglobinopathy for treatment using the modified CD34-positive HSPCs of the second population, and a method for determining whether an individual suffering from hemoglobinopathy is suitable or unsuitable for treatment using the second population of modified CD34-positive HSPCs derived from the individual and modified to reduce the function of BCL11A.

A composition for inducing and/or amplifying T.sub.SCM in vitro, a culture medium including the composition, and a method for inducing and/or amplifying T.sub.SCM in vitro are provided, wherein the composition comprises inducing agents including IL-7 and IL-21. The chimeric antigen receptor T-memory stem cells induced differentiated and amplified by adding the composition can be used directly for reinfusion therapy of patients.

The invention relates to a method for long-term ex vivo maintenance or expansion of one or more of a human erythroblast, a human megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor, or a human common myeloid progenitor, comprising the step of: culturing cells comprising one or more of those cells in a culture medium comprising one or more selected from a tankyrase inhibitor, a growth factor, a B-Raf kinase inhibitor and a GSK-3 inhibitor.

The present invention relates to, inter alia, an engineered cell (e.g., iPSC, IPS-derived NK, or NK cell) comprising a disrupted B2M gene and an inserted polynucleotide encoding one or more of SERPINB9, a fusion of IL15 and IL15Rα, and/or HLA-E. The engineered cell can further comprise a disrupted CIITA gene and an inserted polynucleotide encoding a CAR, wherein the CAR can be an anti-BCMA CAR or an anti-CD30 CAR. The engineered cell may further comprise a disrupted ADAM17 gene, a disrupted FAS gene, a disrupted CISH gene, and/or a disrupted REGNASE-1 gene. Methods for producing the engineered cells are also provided, and therapeutic uses of the engineered cells are also described. Guide RNA sequences targeting described target sequences are also described.

A method of differentiating pluripotent stem cells into hemangioblasts comprising incubating the pluripotent stem cells in a first serum-free differentiation medium comprising bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and stem cell factor (SCF) to induce differentiation of the pluripotent stem cells into hemangioblasts or hemangioblast-containing embryoid bodies is provided. The hemangioblasts or embryoid bodies may be cultured in a second differentiation medium comprising at el least granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and interleukin-3 (IL-3) for a period of time sufficient to generate alveolar-like macrophages.

The present invention relates to: a method for producing immunocytes, specifically induced natural killer T (iNKT) cells that are induced by direct reprogramming of isolated somatic cells, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-iNKT cells into which a CAR gene encoding a CAR is introduced; iNKT cells produced by the method; and a cell therapy composition and a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating cancer, comprising the iNKT cells.

The method according to the present invention can produce, through direct reprogramming, iNKT cells or iNKT cells into which a CAR gene is introduced, from isolated cells so as to simplify the production process and shorten production time, thereby reducing costs, to have excellent NKT cell production efficiency, and to ensure safety according to the production without passing through induced pluripotent stem cells, thereby having an excellent NKT cell production effect distinguished from that of a conventional reprogramming technique. In addition, the iNKT cells or iNKT cells into which a CAR gene is introduced, which are produced by the method, have an excellent cancer cell killing ability, and thus can be effectively used as a cell therapy composition or a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating cancer.

The present invention relates to stem cells derived from a multi-layered cellular structure or blastocyst structure, compositions comprising the same, and methods for obtaining the same.

Disclosed are methods for conditionally immortalizing stem cells, including adult and embryonic stem cells, the cells produced by such methods, therapeutic and laboratory or research methods of using such cells, and methods to identify compounds related to cell differentiation and development or to treat diseases, using such cells. A mouse model of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and cells and methods related to such mouse model are also described.