The present invention relates to methods for obtaining skeletal muscle derived cells (SMDC), and the use of SMDCs in a method of preventing and/or treating neuromyopathies and/or myopathies, wherein the neuromyopathy and/or myopathy is incontinence, in particular a urinary and/or an anal or fecal incontinence.

Provided are a composition for cell transplant and a method for cell transplant, both of which enable a myocardial tissue to favorably retain cardiac myocytes and/or cardiac progenitors and can improve the persistence and proliferation of transplanted cells. The composition for cell transplant of the present invention is a composition for cell transplant, containing cells and an aqueous solution containing a protein (A), the cells including a cardiac myocyte and/or a cardiac progenitor, the protein (A) having a degree of hydrophobicity of 0.2 to 1.2, the protein (A) containing a polypeptide chain (Y) and/or a polypeptide chain (Y′), the protein (A) containing 1 to 100 polypeptide chains as a total of the polypeptide chain (Y) and the polypeptide chain (Y′), the polypeptide chain (Y) being a polypeptide chain having 2 to 100 continuous amino acid sequences (X), the amino acid sequence (X) having any one of a VPGVG sequence (1) corresponding to an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, a GVGVP sequence (2) corresponding to an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, a GPP sequence, a GAP sequence, and a GAHGPAGPK sequence (3) corresponding to an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, the polypeptide chain (Y′) being a polypeptide chain having a structure in which 0.1 to 5% amino acid residues in the polypeptide chain (Y) are replaced by a lysine residue and/or an arginine residue and including 1 to 100 residues as a total of the lysine residue and the arginine residue.

Provided are a composition for cell transplant and a method for cell transplant, both of which enable a myocardial tissue to favorably retain cardiac myocytes and/or cardiac progenitors and can improve the persistence and proliferation of transplanted cells. The composition for cell transplant of the present invention is a composition for cell transplant, containing cells and an aqueous solution containing a protein (A), the cells including a cardiac myocyte and/or a cardiac progenitor, the protein (A) having a degree of hydrophobicity of 0.2 to 1.2, the protein (A) containing a polypeptide chain (Y) and/or a polypeptide chain (Y′), the protein (A) containing 1 to 100 polypeptide chains as a total of the polypeptide chain (Y) and the polypeptide chain (Y′), the polypeptide chain (Y) being a polypeptide chain having 2 to 100 continuous amino acid sequences (X), the amino acid sequence (X) having any one of a VPGVG sequence (1) corresponding to an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, a GVGVP sequence (2) corresponding to an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, a GPP sequence, a GAP sequence, and a GAHGPAGPK sequence (3) corresponding to an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, the polypeptide chain (Y′) being a polypeptide chain having a structure in which 0.1 to 5% amino acid residues in the polypeptide chain (Y) are replaced by a lysine residue and/or an arginine residue and including 1 to 100 residues as a total of the lysine residue and the arginine residue.

Provided are a composition for cell transplant and a method for cell transplant, both of which enable a myocardial tissue to favorably retain cardiac myocytes and/or cardiac progenitors and can improve the persistence and proliferation of transplanted cells. The composition for cell transplant of the present invention is a composition for cell transplant, containing cells and an aqueous solution containing a protein (A), the cells including a cardiac myocyte and/or a cardiac progenitor, the protein (A) having a degree of hydrophobicity of 0.2 to 1.2, the protein (A) containing a polypeptide chain (Y) and/or a polypeptide chain (Y′), the protein (A) containing 1 to 100 polypeptide chains as a total of the polypeptide chain (Y) and the polypeptide chain (Y′), the polypeptide chain (Y) being a polypeptide chain having 2 to 100 continuous amino acid sequences (X), the amino acid sequence (X) having any one of a VPGVG sequence (1) corresponding to an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, a GVGVP sequence (2) corresponding to an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, a GPP sequence, a GAP sequence, and a GAHGPAGPK sequence (3) corresponding to an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, the polypeptide chain (Y′) being a polypeptide chain having a structure in which 0.1 to 5% amino acid residues in the polypeptide chain (Y) are replaced by a lysine residue and/or an arginine residue and including 1 to 100 residues as a total of the lysine residue and the arginine residue.

Several embodiments of the methods and compositions disclosed herein relate to methods of treating viral infections, such as those caused by coronaviruses. In some embodiments, CDCs are administered to a patient, to treat the viral infection. In some embodiments, CDC-derived exosomes are administered to a patient. In some embodiments combinations of CDCs and CDC-derived exosomes are used. In still additional embodiments, combination therapies, such as CDCs or CDC-derived exosomes in combination with another therapeutic, such as an anti-inflammotry or other immune modulator are used to treat viral infections. In some embodiments, the viral infection is COVID-19, which is caused by SARS-CoV-2.

Several embodiments of the methods and compositions disclosed herein relate to methods of treating viral infections, such as those caused by coronaviruses. In some embodiments, CDCs are administered to a patient, to treat the viral infection. In some embodiments, CDC-derived exosomes are administered to a patient. In some embodiments combinations of CDCs and CDC-derived exosomes are used. In still additional embodiments, combination therapies, such as CDCs or CDC-derived exosomes in combination with another therapeutic, such as an anti-inflammotry or other immune modulator are used to treat viral infections. In some embodiments, the viral infection is COVID-19, which is caused by SARS-CoV-2.

This disclosure relates to methods of making vascular smooth muscle like cells from precursor stem cells. In certain embodiments the vascular smooth muscle like cells are able to contract in response to vasoactive agents, In certain embodiments, the methods comprise contacting pluripotent stem cells with a mesoderm induction growth medium, followed by replicating the cells in a serum-free vascular smooth muscle cell growth medium in the presence of collagen, and purifying replicated cells that express cadherin-2. In certain embodiments, the purified cells are used to treat or prevent a cardiovascular disease or condition.

This disclosure relates to methods of making vascular smooth muscle like cells from precursor stem cells. In certain embodiments the vascular smooth muscle like cells are able to contract in response to vasoactive agents, In certain embodiments, the methods comprise contacting pluripotent stem cells with a mesoderm induction growth medium, followed by replicating the cells in a serum-free vascular smooth muscle cell growth medium in the presence of collagen, and purifying replicated cells that express cadherin-2. In certain embodiments, the purified cells are used to treat or prevent a cardiovascular disease or condition.

This disclosure relates to using a ETV2 gene or gene products including DNA, RNA, mRNA, ETV2 proteins, or protein containing exosomes, to directly reprogram and convert resident non-endothelial cells of host into endothelial cells in situ, i.e., in places of the body or tissue where ETV2 is injected. In certain embodiments, it is contemplated that directly reprogrammed and converted endothelial cells will enhance blood vessel regeneration in the tissues where blood vessels have been damaged.

This disclosure relates to using a ETV2 gene or gene products including DNA, RNA, mRNA, ETV2 proteins, or protein containing exosomes, to directly reprogram and convert resident non-endothelial cells of host into endothelial cells in situ, i.e., in places of the body or tissue where ETV2 is injected. In certain embodiments, it is contemplated that directly reprogrammed and converted endothelial cells will enhance blood vessel regeneration in the tissues where blood vessels have been damaged.