Described herein are thienopyrimidine compounds of Formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Also provided are methods and kits involving the thienopyrimidine compounds or compositions for treating or preventing proliferative diseases such as cancers (e.g., brain tumors such as DIPGs) in a subject. The invention further provides an embryonic stem cell-based tumor cell model, which can be used for drug screening and disease target identification.

System and method includes a body having a central microchannel separated by one or more porous membranes. The membranes are configured to divide the central microchannel into a two or more parallel central microchannels, wherein one or more first fluids are applied through the first central microchannel and one or more second fluids are applied through the second or more central microchannels. The surfaces of each porous membrane can be coated with cell adhesive molecules to support the attachment of cells and promote their organization into tissues on the upper and lower surface of the membrane. The pores may be large enough to only permit exchange of gases and small chemicals, or to permit migration and transchannel passage of large proteins and whole living cells. Fluid pressure, flow and channel geometry also may be varied to apply a desired mechanical force to one or both tissue layers.

Pluripotent cells that are immunopositive for both the neural progenitor marker nestin and a pluripotent cell marker are provided. The cells exhibit rapid doubling times and can be maintained in vitro for extended periods. Also provided are cell cultures containing the pluripotent cells, a method of transplanting human pluripotent cells to a host, and a method of reducing seizure activity in a subject. These pluripotent cells, when transplanted into the ventricle of a host animal, migrate to the site of damage and adopt a suitably corrective phenotype, resulting in both structural and functional restoration.

The present invention relates to a method for culturing neural stem cells into spheroids, the method including: culturing neural stem cells in a culture vessel coated with a protein containing a VGVPG pentapeptide and an RGD integrin receptor ligand; and isolating the neural stem cells that are aggregated and formed into spheroids during the culturing.

Methods, compositions and kits for producing functional neurons, astroctyes, oligodendrocytes and progenitor cells thereof are provided. These methods, compositions and kits find use in producing neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and progenitor cells thereof for transplantation, for experimental evaluation, as a source of lineage- and cell-specific products, and the like, for example for use in treating human disorders of the CNS. Also provided are methods, compositions and kits for screening candidate agents for activity in converting cells into neuronal cells, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and progenitor cells thereof.

The present invention has as its object to find out new conditions that make it possible to induce cell death of non-cardiomyocytes or undifferentiated stem cells more completely and to select cardiomyocytes only.

In order to achieve this object, there are provided in the present application: a cell culture medium for use in inducing cell death of undifferentiated stem cells, wherein the cell culture medium is free of glutamine in the amino acid profile; and also a method for inducing cell death of non-cardiomyocytes by performing cell culture in said cell culture medium. Further provided in this application are: a cell culture medium for use in selecting cardiomyocytes, wherein the cell culture medium is supplemented with lactate, pyruvate or a fatty acid, free of sugar, and free of glutamine in the amino acid profile; and also a method for selecting cardiomyocytes by culturing a mixture of cardiomyocytes and non-cardiomyocytes in said cell culture medium.

A method of promoting neural stem cell differentiation is provided comprising exposing neural stem cells to a dopamine D.sub.4 receptor antagonist.

The present invention provides a method for producing neural cells or a neural tissue, including the following steps (1)-(3): (1) a first step of culturing pluripotent stem cells in the absence of feeder cells and in a medium containing 1) a TGFβ family signal transduction pathway inhibiting substance and/or a Sonic hedgehog signal transduction pathway activating substance, and 2) a factor for maintaining undifferentiated state, (2) a second step of culturing the cells obtained in the first step in suspension to form a cell aggregate, and (3) a third step of culturing the aggregate obtained in the second step in suspension in the presence or absence of a differentiation-inducing factor to obtain an aggregate containing neural cells or a neural tissue.

The present invention provides a method for producing retinal cells or a retinal tissue, comprising the following steps (1)-(3): (1) a first step of culturing human pluripotent stem cells in the absence of feeder cells and in a medium comprising a factor for maintaining undifferentiated state, (2) a second step of culturing the pluripotent stem cells obtained in the first step in suspension in the presence of a Sonic hedgehog signal transduction pathway activating substance to form a cell aggregate, and (3) a third step of culturing the aggregate obtained in the second step in suspension in the presence of a 1) a BMP signal transduction pathway activating substance to obtain an aggregate containing retinal cells or a retinal tissue.

This invention provides populations of neural progenitor cells, differentiated neurons, glial cells, and astrocytes. The populations are obtained by culturing stem cell populations (such as embryonic stem cells) in a cocktail of growth conditions that initiates differentiation, and establishes the neural progenitor population. The progenitors can be further differentiated in culture into a variety of different neural phenotypes, including dopaminergic neurons. The differentiated cell populations or the neural progenitors can be generated in large quantities for use in drug screening and the treatment of neurological disorders.