Methods and compositions for expanding cardiovascular progenitor cells are described herein that include use of compositions and culture media that have at least the following components: BMP4, Activin A, a glycogen synthase kinase 3 inhibitor, and an inhibitor of FGF, VEGF, and PDGF signaling. The methods include contacting cardiovascular progenitor cells with a culture medium having BMP4, Activin A, a glycogen synthase kinase 3 inhibitor, and an inhibitor of FGF, VEGF, and PDGF signaling, to generate an expanded cardiovascular progenitor cell population.

The present invention provides a method of generating megakaryocytes and platelets. In various embodiments, method involves the use of human embryonic stem cell derived hemangioblasts for differentiation into megakaryocytes and platelets under serum and stromal-free condition. In this system, hESCs are directed towards megakaryocytes through embryoid body formation and hemangioblast differentiation. Further provided is a method of treating a subject in need of platelet transfusion.

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.

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.

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 invention provides culture platforms, cell media, and methods of differentiating pluripotent cells into hematopoietic cells. The invention further provides pluripotent stem cell-derived hematopoietic cells generated using the culture platforms and methods disclosed herein, which enable feed-free, monolayer culturing and in the absence of EB formation. Specifically, pluripotent stem cell-derived hematopoietic cell of this invention include, and not limited to, iHSC, definitive hemogenic endothelium, hematopoietic multipotent progenitors, T cell progenitors, NK cell progenitors, T cells, NK cells, NKT cells and B cells.

The present invention relates to the medical field, in particular to gene editing as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of metabolic diseases affecting the erythroid lineage in a mammalian subject. In invention particular embodiment it refers to the combination of cell reprograming and gene editing for PKD correction as a first example of the potential application of these advanced technologies to metabolic diseases affecting the erythroid lineage. In this sense, PKD patient-specific iPSCs were efficiently generated from PB-MNCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) by a SeV non-integrative system and efficiently use to treat pyruvate kinase deficiency. The gene editing strategy for PKLR gene correction was also successfully applied directly to hematopoietic progenitors.

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.

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.

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.