Hoxb5 identifies long-term hematopoietic stem cells. Expression of Hoxb5 distinguishes between LT-HSCs and non-LT-HSCs, and the marker identifies substantially all LT-HSC in the bone marrow. By utilizing fluorescent proteins under the endogenous expression control of Hoxb5, LT-HSC can be monitored and isolated, including without limitation detection and monitoring of HSC in bone morrow; production of LT-HSC from pluripotent stem cells such as iPS cells; for analysis of early stage LT-HSC; in screening methods for expansion and manipulation of LT-HSC, and the like.

The invention relates to a method which is capable of determining, at an initial stage of differentiation, the differentiated state of undifferentiated stem cells. The invention provides a method for determining a differentiated state of a cell comprising detecting expression of FOXB2 gene of a stem cell, and determining the differentiated state based on the result, and a differentiation marker selected from mRNA or protein derived from the FOXB2 gene. The invention is applicable to quality management of the stem cells or to methods for preparation and isolation of the differentiated cells. Further, because the differentiated cells can be determined at an initial stage of culture, the invention is useful for an early stage screening of cells and for quality management of the stem cells, and reduction in culturing period and cost reduction in expenditure regarding a culture medium, or the like, can be expected.

Compositions and methods disclosed concern an isogenic population of in vitro human embryonic stem cells comprising a disease form of the Huntingtin gene (HTT) at the endogenous HTT gene locus in the genome of the cell; wherein the disease form of the HTT gene comprises a polyQ repeat of at least 40 glutamines at the N-terminus of the Huntingtin protein (HTT). The cell lines of the disclosure comprise genetically-defined alterations made in the endogenous HTT gene that recapitulate Huntington's Disease in humans. Furthermore, the cell lines have isogenic controls that share a similar genetic background. Differentiating cell lines committed to a neuronal fate and fully differentiated cell lines are also provided and they also display phenotypic abnormalities associated with the length of the polyQ repeat of the HTT gene. These cell lines are used as screening tools in drug discovery and development to identify substances that fully or partially revert these phenotype abnormalities.

This invention relates to an enriched population of isolated and expanded human cord blood stem cells and a method of producing an enriched population of isolated and expanded human cord blood stem cells. The expanded human cord blood stem cells are CD34+, CD90+, CD1 84+, CD1 17+, CD49f+, ALDH+, CD45RA− and express pluripotency genes SOX2, OCT4, NANOG, and ZIC3. In one embodiment, the stem cells in the enriched population of the present invention are positive for aldehyde dehydrogenase activity (ALDH+). In addition, in one embodiment the expanded stem cells are nearly depleted of T cells and B cells and contain a limited number of monocytes (CD14). Also disclosed is a method of treating a subject for a hematological disorder using the stem cells of the present invention and a method of determining the effects of a compound on hematopoietic stem cells.

Microfluidic devices and methods for co-encapsulation of a cell and a controlled release particle in one droplet are escribed herein. The devices and methods utilize laminar flow, high shear liquid-liquid interfaces, hydrodynamic vortices, and/or acoustic focusing to increase co-encapsulation efficiency. The precise variation of the droplets microenvironment is enabled by the controlled release particle co-encapsulated with the single cell in each droplet. This capability, coupled with established detection methods, provides an important tool for precise, single cell analysis.

The present application relates to a method for reestablishing stem cells capable of forming chimeras, and cells obtained by the method. The method of the present invention is a technique for monocloning stem cells, for example, capable of forming chimeras from a heterogeneous cell population to obtain high-quality stem cells.

Methods are provided herein for conducting stimulus-response studies on iPSCs, or cells derived from iPSCs, that have been derived from perinatal cells collected from donors under null-exposome conditions. In some embodiments, multiple donors are involved. In other embodiments, the iPSCs are differentiated. The use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from cells that originate from neonates enable a scientist to largely remove the influences of age and environmental exposures, allowing a more targeted analysis of the direct interaction between a stimulus and a test subject. Furthermore, use of iPSCs derived from cells originating from multiple donors enable the scientist to obtain more precise measurements of the role of genetic differences in determining responses to a given stimulus than the use of other test materials, by eliminating the vast majority of the differential influences of age and environment among test subjects.

Platforms and methods for conducting stimulus-response studies on induced pluripotent stem cells, or cells differentiated therefrom, that have been derived from cells collected from donors. Samples are taken at various ages and/or before and after exposure to environmental conditions. Methods for preparing the platforms are also provided. In one embodiment, multiple donors are involved. In another embodiment, induced pluripotent stem cells are differentiated. Optionally, the induced pluripotent stem cells or differentiated cells thereof, are preserved for subsequent analysis.

A method of identifying genes relating to cellular differentiation is provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of identifying regulatory genes relating to cellular differentiation includes: contacting a plurality of stem cells with one or more tagged regulatory genes and a selection marker to form a first plurality of transfected/transduced stem cells; selecting the first plurality of transfected/transduced stem cells; culturing the plurality of transfected/transduced stem cells under conditions suitable to allow the plurality of transfected/transduced stem cells to differentiate into a plurality of differentiated cells expressing the one or more tagged regulatory genes; and performing a single cell RNA sequencing on the plurality of differentiated cells to identify genes relating to cellular differentiation.

The present invention is directed to an agonist of NOD2 for use in therapy for increasing the autonomous capacity of survival of vertebrate adult stem cells, without loss of their capacity to multiply and differentiate, and preferably the capacity of survival of intestinal stem cells, especially in response to a stress. The invention also concerns the use of an agonist of Nod2 for increasing in vitro or ex vivo the autonomous capacity of survival, without loss of multiplication and differentiation capacity of mammalian adult stem cell. The invention also discloses different media and support for mammalian adult stem cells. The invention also concerns an in vitro screening process for identifying molecules capable increasing, in response to a stress, the autonomous capacity of survival, without loss of multiplication and differentiation capacity of mammalian adult stem cells.