The invention relates to truncated growth factors and variants thereof. The invention also relates to methods of making and using the truncated growth factors. The invention further relates to compositions including a protease and a growth factor comprising a bone morphogenic protein (BMP) or a variant thereof. The invention also relates to methods of using the composition.

This invention is directed to, inter alia, stable cartilage-derived progenitor cell lines as well as methods for producing stable cartilage-derived progenitor cell lines from diseased human cartilaginous tissues and lesions. Also provided herein are methods for using cartilage-derived progenitor cell lines for treatment of cartilage and bone degenerative diseases.

The present disclosure relates to cartilage repair compositions and methods for modifying the proteoglycan content of the compositions. Specifically, the methods relate to serum free, collagen free neocartilage made from chondrocytes that can be used for implants. Proteoglycans, such as aggrecan and sulfated glycosaminoglycan are used and the content modified using temperature changes.

A method of culturing a cell population containing cartilage-derived cells positive for expression of Tie2 (cartilage-derived Tie2-positive cells), the method including culturing a cell population containing cartilage-derived Tie2-positive cells in a culture medium containing at least one kind of Tie2 expression enhancer other than growth factors (e.g., an extract derived from a plant of the genus Cinnamomum). This culturing method is preferably performed in cultureware having a culture surface coated with a coating agent (e.g., a polylysine-containing agent).

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.

Cell-based therapies for cartilage repair and regeneration selectively using chondrocytes carrying a CD24 surface marker are disclosed. In particular, chondrocytes carrying the CD24 surface marker have a high regenerative potential and low responsiveness to inflammatory cues. Since cartilage injuries as well as chronic cartilage degenerative conditions are often accompanied by a heightened inflammatory environment, cartilage cell populations carrying the CD24 surface marker, which are resistant to the inflammatory environment, provide more efficient cartilage repair. Thus, chondrocytes carrying the CD24 surface marker are useful in cell-based therapies for regenerating or repairing cartilage.

A culture medium for human adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells includes a keratinocyte-SFM basal medium, L-Cysteine, FGF and SDF-1 is disclosed. The culture medium is effective for growing mesenchymal stem cells at a high proliferation rate while maintaining the purity, characterization and undifferentiated state of the cells.

Various cells, stem cells, and stem cell components, including associated methods of generating and using such cells are provided. In one aspect, for example, an isolated cell that is capable of self-renewal and culture expansion and is obtained from a subepithelial layer of a mammalian umbilical cord tissue. Such an isolated cell expresses at least three cell markers selected from CD29, CD73, CD90, CD166, SSEA4, CD9, CD44, CD146, or CD105, and does not express at least three cell markers selected from CD45, CD34, CD14, CD79, CD106, CD86, CD80, CD19, CD117, Stro-1, or HLA-DR.

The present invention provides: a lubricin-localized cartilage-like tissue characterized in that, when in an arbitrary cross section passing a first center of mass of a cartilage-like tissue derived from pluripotent stem cells or a center-of-mass region, which is a portion inside a concentric sphere being centered at the first center of mass and having a diameter of [first major diameter×0.2], the expression level of lubricin per unit area contained in a central region, which is a portion inside a concentric circle being centered at a second center of mass that is the center of mass of the cross section and having a diameter of [major diameter of cross section (second major diameter)×(0.4 to 0.9)] is referred to as the central lubricin level and the expression level of lubricin per unit area contained in the non-central region is referred to as the non-central lubricin level.

The present invention concerns a method for obtaining an implantable cartilage gel for tissue repair of hyaline cartilage, comprising particles of chitosan hydrogel and cells that are capable of forming hyaline cartilage, said method comprising a step for amplification of primary cells in a three-dimensional structure comprising particles of physical hydrogel of chitosan or a chitosan derivative, then a step for re-differentiation and induction of the synthesis of extracellular matrix by said amplified cells, in the same three-dimensional structure, wherein said cells are primary articular chondrocytes and/or mesenchymal stem cells differentiated into chondrocytes. The present invention also concerns the cartilage gel obtained thereby, and its various uses for cartilage repair following a traumatic lesion or an osteoarticular disease such as osteoarthritis. The invention also concerns a three-dimensional matrix comprising particles of physical hydrogel of chitosan or of chitosan derivative, optionally supplemented with an anionic molecule such as hyaluronic acid or a derivative of hyaluronic acid or a complex of hyaluronic acid.