Methods for production of platelets from pluripotent stem cells, such as human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are provided. These methods may be performed without forming embryoid bodies or clusters of pluripotent stem cells, and may be performed without the use of stromal inducer cells. Additionally, the yield and/or purity can be greater than has been reported for prior methods of producing platelets from pluripotent stem cells. Also provided are compositions and pharmaceutical preparations comprising platelets, preferably produced from pluripotent stem cells.

Provided is an isolated population of human pluripotent stem cells comprising at least 50% human pluripotent stem cells characterized by an OCT4+/TRA1-60−/TRA1-81−/SSEA1+/SSEA4− expression signature, and novel methods of generating and maintaining same in a pluripotent, undifferentiated state a suspension culture devoid of cell clumps. Also provided are novel culture media, cell cultures and methods for culturing pluripotent stem cells in a suspension culture or a two-dimensional culture system while maintaining the cells in a proliferative, pluripotent and undifferentiated state. The novel culture media comprise interleukin 11 (IL11) and Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor (CNTF); bFGF at a concentration of at least 50 ng/ml and an IL6RIL6 chimera; or an animal contaminant-free serum replacement and an IL6RIL6 chimera. Also provided are methods for generating lineage-specific cells from the pluripotent stem cells.

Hematopoeitic stem/progenitor cells (HSPC) and/or non-T effector cells are modified to express an extracellular component including a tag cassette. The tag cassette can be used to activate, promote proliferation of, detect, enrich, isolate, track, deplete and/or eliminate modified cells. The cells can also be modified to express a binding domain.

The present disclosure provides methods for generating hematopoietic progenitor cells. In some embodiments, the methods involve an in vitro or ex vivo cell culture model utilizing retinoic acid signaling for producing hematopoietic progenitor cells from pluripotent stem cells.

A cell/tissue culture system comprising at least one bioreactor configured to hold at least one type of cell to cultivate tissue, a dialysis unit comprising a dialysis membrane, a fresh medium unit, and a waste removal unit configured to remove metabolic waste from dialysate, wherein the metabolic waste comprises ammonia and lactate, and wherein the waste removal unit comprises biocatalysts or enzymes configured to breakdown lactate and generate carbon sources that promote cell growth.

Methods for production of platelets from pluripotent stem cells, such as human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are provided. These methods may be performed without forming embryoid bodies or clusters of pluripotent stem cells, and may be performed without the use of stromal inducer cells. Additionally, the yield and/or purity can be greater than has been reported for prior methods of producing platelets from pluripotent stem cells. Also provided are compositions and pharmaceutical preparations comprising platelets, preferably produced from pluripotent stem cells.

The present invention relates to methods, kits and compositions for expansion of embryonic hematopoietic stem cells and providing hematopoietic function to human patients in need thereof. In one aspect, it relates to kits and compositions comprising a Notch agonist, one or more growth factors, and, optionally, an inhibitor of the TGFβ pathway. Also provided herein are methods for expanding embryonic hematopoietic stem cells using kits and compositions comprising a Notch agonist, one or more growth factors, and, optionally, an inhibitor of the TGFβ pathway. The embryonic hematopoietic stem cells expanded using the disclosed kits, compositions and methods include cells derived from an embryo (e.g., aorta-gonad-mesonephros region of the embryo), embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, or reprogrammed cells of other types. The present invention also relates to administering the embryonic hematopoietic stem cells expanded using a combination of a Notch agonist, one or more growth factors, and, optionally, an inhibitor of the TGFβ pathway to a patient for short-term and/or long-term in vivo repopulation benefits.

A method for meat production by in vitro cell culture includes isolating tissue from an animal or plant source and making a cell suspension of cells, and growing the cells into a solid or semi-solid structure that mimics an animal organ by growing the cells on a food-grade scaffold in a culture medium. Culture medium comprising growth factor of (i) genetically same or similar species to the cells and/or (ii) genetically same genus to the cells is used. Expression of one or more proteins in the growing cells may be increased by altering a level of one or more micro RNAs that regulate expression of the protein. Additionally, the growing cells may be co-cultured with bioengineered cells that secrete growth factors and cytokines that support the growth of the cells in situ. The co-culturing technique reduces or eliminates the need for animal-derived fetal bovine serum in the culture medium.

An in vitro method for identifying, isolating and/or enriching primate naive pluripotent stem cells, the method including analyzing transcription of a type 7 long terminal repeat (LTR7) nucleic acid sequence of a type H human endogenous retrovirus (HERVH) (LTR7/HERVH-associated transcription), and identifying, isolating and/or enriching primate naive pluripotent stem cells based on LTR7/HERVH-associated transcription, wherein LTR7/HERVH-associated transcription is a marker for primate naive pluripotent stem cells. An isolated in vitro population of primate naive pluripotent stem cells is obtained by the method, wherein in the cells LTR7/HERVH-associated transcription is elevated in comparison to control cells, wherein control cells are primed pluripotent stem cells or differentiated cells.

Methods for production of platelets from pluripotent stem cells, such as human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are provided. These methods may be performed without forming embryoid bodies or clusters of pluripotent stem cells, and may be performed without the use of stromal inducer cells. Additionally, the yield and/or purity can be greater than has been reported for prior methods of producing platelets from pluripotent stem cells. Also provided are compositions and pharmaceutical preparations comprising platelets, preferably produced from pluripotent stem cells.