Methods are provided for the efficient differentiation of hPSCs into HSC-like cells and endothelial cells in defined, monolayer conditions solely using extracellular signals to guide differentiation. The instant disclosure also provides methods of screening for cellular responses of the generated hematopoietic stem cells, endothelial cells and derivatives thereof. Treatment methods making use of the generated hematopoietic stem cells and endothelial cells are also provided. The instant disclosure also provides systems, compositions, and kits for practicing the methods of the disclosure.

Strategies to assess and/or produce cell populations with predictive engraftment potential are described. The cell populations can be used for a variety of therapeutic and research purposes.

This invention is directed to, inter alia, compounds, methods, systems, and compositions for the maintenance, enhancement, and expansion of hematopoietic stem cells derived from one or more sources of CD34+ cells. Sources of CD34+ cells include bone marrow, cord blood, mobilized peripheral blood, and non-mobilized peripheral blood. Also provided herein are compounds of Formula I

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which are useful in maintaining, enhancing, and expanding of hematopoietic stem cells.

Inhibition of the VIP signaling pathway with VIP antagonist is contemplated. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to methods of enhancing the immune response to a cell therapy comprising administering a VIP antagonist to a subject in combination with a cell. In certain embodiments, the subject is diagnosed with leukemia or lymphoma. In certain embodiments, the cell is a blood cell, bone marrow cell, leukocyte, T-cell, natural killer cell, a hematopoietic stem cell, a G-CSF mobilized or non-mobilized blood mononuclear cell.

The present invention relates in part to nucleic acids encoding proteins, nucleic acids containing non-canonical nucleotides, therapeutics comprising nucleic acids, methods, kits, and devices for inducing cells to express proteins, methods, kits, and devices for transfecting, gene editing, and reprogramming cells, and cells, organisms, and therapeutics produced using these methods, kits, and devices. Methods for inducing cells to express proteins and for reprogramming and gene-editing cells using RNA are disclosed. Methods for producing cells from patient samples, cells produced using these methods, and therapeutics comprising cells produced using these methods are also disclosed.

The invention provides an HIF-1 activator for treatment, prevention, alleviation, improvement or recovery from diseases or symptoms associated with reduced HIF-1 activity, as well as a pharmaceutical composition, cosmetic and food composition comprising the activator. Provided is an HIF-1 activator comprising olive leaf extract. Also provided is an HIF-1 activator which is for maintaining the undifferentiated state of stem cells via HIF-1 activation and/or improving dysdifferentiation of stem cells.

The present invention discloses a serum-free medium and a culture method suitable for culturing human cells. The present invention provides a method of culturing human cells, the method comprising bringing the human cells into contact with polyalkylene glycol modified with a copolymer containing a polyvinylcaprolactam block and a polyvinylacetate block.

Methods for generating clinically safe NK cells derived from non-fully differentiated stem cells and their use in treating cancer are provided. The non-fully differentiated stem cells are co-cultured with endogenous NK cells isolated from adipocyte-containing tissue to generate a high percentage of clinically safe NK cells, where anti-tumor activity of the clinically safe NK cells in vitro is similar to that of endogenous NK cells. Optimized Production of the clinically safe autologous NK cells from stem cells provides platform for treating cancer patients by applying an effective adoptive immunotherapy ranging from the early to terminal stages.

Methods of increasing progenitor cell production are described. In particular, an effective amount of a thrombopoietin (TPO) mimetic is used to increase production of at least one cell selected from a stem cell, a progenitor cell or an endothelial cell in the bone marrow of non-irradiated subjects.

Embodiments disclosed here provide engineered modified hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), artificially prostaglandin E2 (PGE.sub.2)-stimulated HSCs, compositions comprising these HSCs, methods of using these modified HSCs for treating autoimmune diseases and disorders and for suppressing the immune system. In particular, the engineered modified HSCs or PGE.sub.2-stimulated HSCs express the surface marker, programmed cell death-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1).