A method of delivering a compound of interest to the lungs of a subject by the intravenous injection of Sertoli cells loaded with a plurality of chitosan nanoparticles coupled with the compound of interest is provided. Testis-derived rat Sertoli cells were pre-loaded with chitosan nanoparticles coupled with or without the drug curcumin, pre-labeled with a fluorescent cell marker and then injected intravenously into the control or asthmatic mouse model host. Intact pre-loaded, pre-labeled Sertoli cells were present in the lungs at 15 minutes post-injection, appeared entrapped in the pulmonary pre-capillary vascular bed around alveolar sacs but were not present one hour post-injection although Sertoli cell label and cellular debris was. Most of the injected nanoparticle load (70%) and curcumin load (80%) was present in the lungs 15 minutes post-injection, and remained at 70% and 80%, respectively, one hour post-injection.

The present application provides an in-vitro committed differentiation method for inducing human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into Leydig cells (LCs) by neural crest stem cells (NCSCs). The hiPS-derived LCs is verified by an animal model to have the capacity of regenerating senile or injured LCs, so that a new treatment for supplementing testosterone is provided for patients suffering from hypogonadism, particularly for patients suffering from late-onset hypogonadism (LOH).

Provided are stem cells-induced Serotoli-like cells, methods of preparing the same, and uses thereof. Sertoli-like cells according to one embodiment can be differentiated from embryonic stem cells with excellent proliferative capacity, and thus, can be obtained in large quantities. Also, since the Sertoli-like cells secrete immunosuppressive substances and form immune privilege and induce anti-inflammatory functions, they can be used for development of the cell therapeutic agent.

The present invention is directed towards methods of culturing non-keratinocyte epithelial cells, with the methods comprising culturing non-keratinocyte epithelial cells in the presence of feeder cells and a calcium-containing medium while inhibiting the activity of Rho kinase (ROCK) in the feeder cell, the non-keratinocyte epithelial cells or both during culturing.

The technology relates in part to methods and compositions for ex vivo proliferation and expansion of epithelial cells.

The technology relates in part to methods and compositions for ex vivo proliferation and expansion of epithelial cells.

The technology relates in part to methods and compositions for ex vivo proliferation and expansion of epithelial cells.

The present invention is directed towards methods of culturing non-keratinocyte epithelial cells, with the methods comprising culturing non-keratinocyte epithelial cells in the presence of feeder cells and a calcium-containing medium while inhibiting the activity of Rho kinase (ROCK) in the feeder cell, the non-keratinocyte epithelial cells or both during culturing.

The technology relates in part to methods and compositions for ex vivo proliferation and expansion of epithelial cells.

Compositions for use in treating penile defects, including erectile dysfunction and Peyronie's disease. Compositions include penile stem cells and isolated penile stem cells substantially free of red blood cells, additives such as amnion, amniotic fluid, extracellular matrix components, growth factors, anti-inflammatories, antioxidants, wound healing agents, and collagenases. Also provided are methods of treating said penile defects in a patient, including implanting a composition of penile stem cells or platelet rich plasma derived from the penis into a patient. Methods include implanting a composition of amnion and/or amniotic fluid into a patient for a penile defect. Also provided are methods of isolating penile stem cells substantially free of red blood cells by providing a whole blood specimen obtained from the penis of a subject; separating the whole blood into fractions containing penile stem cells and the red blood cells from the specimen; and collecting the penile stem cell fraction.