Provided herein are, inter alia, methods, compositions, and kits for producing adipocyte populations such as beige adipocyte populations. Also included are methods and compositions for increasing the level of adipocyte populations (e.g., beige adipocyte populations) in a subject, as well as methods and compositions for treating subjects who are overweight, obese, or who have diabetes.

The present invention relates to a method for isolating stem/progenitor cells from the amniotic membrane of umbilical cord, wherein the method comprises separating the amniotic membrane from the other components of the umbilical cord in vitro, culturing the amniotic membrane tissue under conditions allowing cell proliferation, and isolating the stem/progenitor cells from the tissue cultures. The isolated stem cell cells can have embryonic stem cell-like properties and can be used for various therapeutic purposes. In one embodiment, the invention relates to the isolation and cultivation of stem cells such as epithelial and/or mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells under conditions allowing the cells to undergo mitotic expansion. Furthermore, the invention is directed to a method for the differentiation of the isolated stem/progenitor cells into epithelial and/or mesenchymal cells.

The present invention relates to: a method for producing a spheroid form of tonsil-derived stem cells, the method enhancing growth and differentiation efficiency of tonsil-derived stem cells; and a method for producing a spheroid form of parathyroid hormones from the same. The method of the present invention for producing a spheroid form of tonsil-derived stem cells cultures the tonsil-derived stem cells in the form of a spheroid to thereby enhance the proliferation rate of the stem cells per se and remarkably increase differentiation potency into parathyroid cells. Thereby, the method has a remarkable effect on the growth and differentiation of the tonsil-derived stem cells into parathyroid cells, etc.

The present invention relates to a method of cultivating an epithelial stem/progenitor cell population of the amniotic membrane of umbilical cord, the epithelial stem/progenitor cell population having the capacity to differentiate in multiple cell types.

The present disclosure relates to stem cells derived from a pure chorionic trophoblast layer (chorionic trophoblast layer without villi, CT-V), which is a part of the tissues of the placenta, and cell therapy comprising same. Stem cells derived from a pure chorionic trophoblast layer according to the present invention exhibit uniform growth characteristic, and superb proliferation and differentiation characteristics compared to the conventional stem cells derived from the whole placenta, and particularly, exhibit excellent differentiation into cartilage cells, thus can be effectively used in cell therapy for treating cartilage damage, deficiency and such, and as a composition for tissue regeneration.

The present invention provides methods and compositions for inducing pluripotency in differentiated mammalian cells. In particular, the methods include mechanically aggregating the cells into discrete masses or embryoid-like bodies and treated them with a small molecule compound. Provided herein are the compositions of the compounds which are derived from programin (e.g., reversine).

Disclosed is a method for differentiation into biocompatible keratocyte progenitor cells, the method including: providing human turbinate mesenchymal stem cells (hTMSCs) from a tissue source; and culturing the provided human turbinate mesenchymal stem cells (hTMSCs) in a keratocyte differentiation medium supplemented with keratocyte growth factor (KGF), so that a differentiable keratocyte precursor cell composition that is impossible in the conventional art can be implemented, and the injection of the keratocyte progenitor cell composition into patients can produce a short-term treatment effect while securing the transparency of the cornea.

The present invention relates to a method of culturing and/or monitoring epithelial cells using a microfluidic cell culture system comprising a microfluidic channel network. In the method epithelial cells are lined, in the microfluidic cell culture system by cells of mesenchymal origin. The cells may form a tubular or tube-like structure, i.e. a.tube in a tube. The method allows for improved epithelial models suitable for a wide variety of applications, including but not limited to high-throughput screening and analysis of epithelium in health and disease.

The present invention relates to: composition for differentiating non-dental mesenchymal stem cells into odontoblasts comprising CPNE7 protein or gene; method for differentiating in vitro non-dental mesenchymal stem cells using the same; and also use thereof.

A method of generating a population of cells useful for treating a nerve disease or disorder in a subject, the method comprising up-regulating a level of at least one exogenous miRNA in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and/or down-regulating a level of at least one miRNA using a polynucleotide agent that hybridizes to the miRNA, thereby generating the population of cells useful for treating the nerve disease or disorder. Isolated populations of cells with an astrocytic phenotype generated thereby and uses thereof are also provided.