Disclosed herein are cell cultures and enriched cell populations of endocrine precursor cells, immature pancreatic hormone-expressing cells and mature pancreatic hormone-expressing cells. Also disclosed herein are methods of producing such cell cultures and cell populations.

The present invention provides improved methods for producing RPE cells from human embryonic stem cells or from other human pluripotent stem cells. The invention also relates to human retinal pigmented epithelial cells derived from human embryonic stem cells or other human multipotent or pluripotent stem cells. hRPE cells derived from embryonic stem cells am molecularly distinct from adult and fetal-derived RPE cells, and are also distinct from embryonic stem cells. The hRPE cells described hemin are useful for treating retinal degenerative diseases.

The present invention is directed to the identification of a biomarker specifically located in the plasma membrane of pancreatic beta cells. Based on a set of specific features the biomarker is a unique candidate for imaging and targeting strategies to study the pancreatic beta cell mass in health and disease (T1D, T2D, pancreatic cancers, obesity, islet transplantation, beta cell regeneration).

Novel adult liver progenitor cells (called H2Stem Cells) have been have been characterized on the basis of a series of biological activities and markers. Methods for producing H2Stem Cells allow providing such cells in the form of adherent cells and three-dimensional cell clusters in suspension that can be differentiated into cells having strong liver-specific activities and/or that can be used for treating liver diseases or for evaluating the efficacy, the metabolism, and/or toxicity of a compound.

To provide a method for serum-free culture of human cartilage cells and a serum-free culture medium. A method for serum-free culture of cartilage cells, said method comprising: an enzymatic treatment step for treating a human cartilage cell-containing tissue with a protease; an inhibitor-treatment step for, after the enzymatic treatment step, treating the tissue with an inhibitor for the aforesaid protease; and a culture step for, after the inhibitor-treatment step, culturing the tissue in a serum-free culture medium that contains kartogenin and/or SAG, ITS, FGF2 and hydrocortisone. A serum-free culture medium for culturing cartilage cells, said serum-free culture medium containing kartogenin and/or SAG, ITS, FGF2 and hydrocortisone.

An object is to prepare an intestinal organoid having a characteristic close to the small intestine of a living body, from a pluripotent stem cell. An intestinal organoid is prepared from a pluripotent stem cell, by the following steps of: (1) differentiating the pluripotent stem cell into an endoderm-like cell; (2) differentiating the endoderm-like cell obtained in step (1) into an intestinal stem cell-like cell; (3) culturing the intestinal stem cell-like cell obtained in step (2) in the presence of an epidermal growth factor, a fibroblast growth factor, a TGF β receptor inhibitor, a GSK-3 β inhibitor, and a ROCK inhibitor; (4) culturing the cell obtained in step (3) to form a spheroid; and (5) differentiating the spheroid formed in step (4) to form an intestinal organoid, wherein the differentiation includes culturing in the presence of an epidermal growth factor, a BMP inhibitor, and a Wnt signal activator. Also, a plane culture system is prepared by subjecting the cells constituting the intestinal organoid formed in step (5) to plane culture in the presence of an epidermal growth factor and a TGF β receptor inhibitor. A highly functional evaluation system having the villi structure is constructed by using air-liquid interface culture in the plane culture.

The present disclosure includes a composition for promoting growth or suppressing decrease of mesenchymal stem cells comprising serpin A3.

A method for culturing primary cells from solid tumor tissues of lung cancer and primary tumor cells from pleural effusion of lung cancer, and the auxiliary reagents. A method for culturing primary cells from solid tumor tissues of lung cancer and primary tumor cells from pleural effusion of lung cancer and the auxiliary reagents. The core of the technology is as follows: (1) solid tumor of lung cancer are treated by using a mild cell dissociating reagent, and lung cancer cells in pleural effusion are dissociated by a mild method, ensuring the vitality of cancer cells to the greatest extent; (2) a special serum-free medium is prepared, and tumor cells derived from solid tumor tissues of lung cancer are cultured in vitro by using a suspension culture system, ensuring the normal amplification of the cancer cells while eliminating the interference of normal cells to the greatest extent.

Methods of using human airway stem cells in lung epithelial engineering, optionally wherein the cells are contacted with a gamma secretase inhibitor, bioartificial airway organs produced thereby, and the use thereof, e.g., for transplantation. Also methods of treating a bio-artificial matrix with Tenascin-C and/or fibrillin 2.

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.