Methods, pharmaceutical compositions, and kits are provided for treating a subject with an effective amount of an oxytocin receptor (OXTR) agonist and an effective amount of an ALK5 antagonist. In certain aspects, the OXTR agonist may be oxytocin or an oxytocin analog (e.g., a small molecule). The ALK 5 antagonist may be a small molecule, such as 2-(3-(6-Methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,5-naphthyridine, LY2157299, A 83-01, D 4476, GW 788388, LY 364947, Rep Sox, SB 431542, SB 505124, SB 525334, or SD 208. In certain aspects, the amounts of the OXTR agonist and ALK5 antagonist may be sufficient to induce muscle regeneration and/or neural cell regeneration in the subject.

Methods are provided for the production of photoreceptor cells and photoreceptor progenitor cells from pluripotent stem cells. Additionally provided are compositions of photoreceptor cells and photoreceptor cells, as well as methods for the therapeutic use thereof. Exemplary methods may produce substantially pure cultures of photoreceptor cells and/or photoreceptor cells.

The present invention relates to a composition for preserving cells and a method for preserving cells and, more specifically, to: a composition for preserving cells, containing, as active ingredients, plant-derived recombinant human serum albumin and plant peptides, wherein the composition maintains a high cellular survival rate while maintaining animal-free and xeno-free properties and is stable without changes in cellular morphology or surface expression factors in the short-term preservation of cells such as stem cells or primary cultured cells; and a method for preserving cells by using the same.

Provided herein are isolated neural stem cells and methods of making neural stem cells from human trophoblast stem cells. The isolated neural stem cells can be immune privileged and express one or more protein(s). Also provided are methods for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases using suitable preparations comprising the isolated neural stem cells.

Provided herein are methods and compositions for a suicide gene approach comprising an expression vector comprising a cell cycle-dependent promoter driving the expression of a suicide gene. Also provided herein are methods to render proliferative cells sensitive to a prodrug after transplantation but avoids expression of the suicide gene in post-mitotic cells, such as neurons.

An isolated biological stem cell or a set of biological stem cells that include human mesenchymal stem cell line 120816CT, deposited under ATCC Accession number PTA-124321, and differentiated into at least one type of cell selected from the group: neural stem cells, nephron progenitor cells, cardiomyocytes, neurons, glial cells, and vascular endothelial cells. The neurons comprise cholinergic neurons or dopaminergic neurons. A method of treating at least one human physical condition is also disclosed. The method includes injecting a patient with stem cell line 120816 CT to treat osteoarthritis, tendonitis, herniated disc, ligament damage, acute and chronic kidney disease and injury, Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal cord injury, other skeletal muscular disorders, Lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease, Graft-versus host disease, liver dysfunction or diseases, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, myocardial ischemia, heart failure, coronary artery disease, and other disorders characterized by inflammation.

The present disclosure relates to methods for producing dopaminergic cells and evaluating their functionality. When pluripotent human embryonic stem cells are cultured on plates coated with laminin-111, laminin-121, laminin-521, laminin-421, or laminin-511 in cell culture medium containing a GSK3 inhibitor and a TGF-β inhibitor as well as timely administered fibroblast growth factor, desired neural cells are produced at far higher rates. Useful cell culture kits for producing such dopaminergic cells are also described herein, as are methods of using such cells for stem cell therapy.

The present invention relates to methods of generating preparations of neural progenitor cells and retinal progenitor cells from populations of stem cells. These methods involve the administration of Tbx3 alone or in combination with Pax6. The preparations of neural and retinal progenitor cells prepared in accordance with the methods disclosed herein are suitable for use in methods of treating individuals having retinal disorders.

The present invention relates generally to the field of stem cells, more specifically to highly pure neural stem cell population, a method for obtaining such highly pure stem cell-derived line of neural stem cells, such as a neural stem cell line derived from pluripotent stem cells, such as human embryonic stem cells. Furthermore, the present invention relates to use of such highly pure neural stem cell lines for use as a medicament for use in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

The invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising human immature dental pulp stem cells (hIDPSCs) wherein the hIDPSCs express CD44 and CD13. The invention also provides methods of treating a neurological disease or condition comprising systemically administering to a subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising hIDPSCs wherein the hIDPSCs express CD44 and CD13. For example, for treating neurological diseases or conditions including supporting the neuro-protective mechanism in subjects diagnosed with early HD or repairing lost DA neurons in subjects diagnosed with PD.