The method for producing a cell aggregate including glial progenitor cells according to the present invention comprises: (1) a step of subjecting pluripotent stem cells to suspension culture in an embryoid-body-forming culture medium containing one or more SMAD signaling inhibitors and one or more Wnt signaling activators in the absence of feeder cells for 5 days to 10 days, to form a cell aggregate; (2) a step of subjecting the cell aggregate obtained in (1) to suspension culture in an embryoid-body-forming culture medium containing retinoic acid; (3) a step of subjecting the cell aggregate obtained in (2) to suspension culture in an embryoid-body-forming culture medium or neuron-and-glia-proliferating culture medium containing retinoic acid and one or more SHH signaling activators; and (4) a step of subjecting the cell aggregate obtained in (3) to suspension culture in a neuron-and-glia-proliferating culture medium containing no retinoic acid and one or more SHH signaling activators.

A method of inhibiting phosphorylation of the tau protein and/or a TLR4-mediated immune response is disclosed. The method contemplates administering to cells in recognized need thereof such as cells of the central nervous system an effective amount of a of a compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof that binds to a pentapeptide of filamin A (FLNA) of SEQ ID NO: 1, and contains at least four of the six pharmacophores of FIGS. 35-40.

A genetically modified glial cells, and use of such cells for rejuvenating glial cell population or treating glial cell-related disorders are disclosed. A method of treating a disorder of the brain and/or brain stem in a subject by introducing a population of genetically modified glial progenitor cells into the brain and/or brain stem of the subject, wherein the genetically modified glial progenitor cells have increased expression of one or more genes compared to the same type of glial progenitor cells that have not been genetically modified, wherein said increased expression of the one or more genes in the genetically modified glial progenitor cells confer competitive advantage over native or already resident glial progenitor cells in the subject.

The present invention relates to novel compositions and methods to produce 3D organ equivalents of the brain (i.e. “mini-brains”). The invention also relates to methods of using human induced pluripotent stem cells, a combination of growth and other soluble factors and gyratory shaking. Cells from healthy or diseased donors or animals can be used to allow testing different genetic backgrounds. The model can be further enhanced by using genetically modified cells, adding micro-glia or their precursors or indicator cells (e.g. with reporter genes or tracers) as well as adding endothelial cells to form a blood-brain-barrier.

The present invention relates to methods allowing adherence and outgrowth of embryoid bodies (EBs) using macrocarriers. The methods of the invention are useful for an up-scaled production of myeloid cells, such as macrophage- and microglia-like/-precursor cells, in a bioreactor system. The invention further relates to microglia-like cells or microglial precursor cells obtainable by these methods that are cryopreservable. The invention also concerns a porous macrocarrier coated with a material facilitating cell adherence.

The disclosure relates to a method of producing bankable and subculturable mature microglia, and according to a method according to an aspect, subculture and banking are possible, and freeze storage and thawing are also possible, and thus, it is possible to simply isolate and use only mature microglia whenever necessary. In addition, it is possible to dramatically reduce the number of subjects required for an experiment, and therefore, the method may contribute economically to all research or industrial fields related to microglia.

The present invention provides methods of producing, purifying and expanding mDA progenitor cells.

Provided herein, inter alia, are compositions and methods comprising glial-derived extracellular vesicles for the prevention and treatment of neuropathies. In aspects, the glial-derived extracellular vesicles may include one or more of the following miRNA, an adeno-associated virus (AAV), siRNA, vRNA, mRNA, lncRNA, DNA, tetraspanins, amino acids, metabolites, signaling proteins, chaperones, cytoskeletal proteins, enzymes, or combinations thereof.

Materials and methods for cell-mimetics having mechanical properties of biological neural axons are provided. A cell-mimetic device includes an array of fibers comprised of hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA) or an HDDA derivative, and at least one derivative of polyethylene glycol (PEG) selected from the group consisting of: PEG-acrylate, PEG-diacrylate, and any multi-arm PEG-acrylate.

A method of producing a synthetic retina, including differentiating a stem cell culture in a culture medium and supplementing the culture with: (i) Triiodothyronine from about day 18 of cell differentiation; and (ii) retinoic acid for a first time period.