A method of producing a 3D tissue composite, comprising: a preparation step in which a multiple number of sheet-shaped first structures containing first cells are prepared, wherein at least one of the multiple number of first structures holds a second structure containing second cells; a stacking step in which the multiple number of first structures are stacked to form a 3D composite; and a culturing step in which the 3D composite is cultured to form a 3D tissue composite containing first tissues formed from the first cells and second tissues formed from the second cells.

The present invention relates to a gene therapy vector which is useful in the treatment or prevention of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a subject in need thereof. The gene therapy vector of the invention comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a cardiac sarcomeric protein and a cardiomyocyte-specific promoter which is operably linked to said nucleic acid sequence. The invention furthermore relates to a cell which comprises the gene therapy vector. Pharmaceutical compositions which comprise the gene therapy vector and/or a cell comprising said vector are also provided. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for treating or preventing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a subject by introducing the gene therapy vector of the invention into a subject in need of treatment.

Herein the inventors demonstrate that mineralization is a natural ability of cells cultured with at least two elements: calcium and acyclic alkane phosphoester salt or inorganic phosphate salt. The present invention provides methods for producing hydroxyapatite (HAP) in cell culture by supplying cells with these elements. The natural HAP crystals produced by these methods may be utilized in biomedical applications such as bone grafting. Also provided are methods of measuring organic phosphates in a sample from a subject and methods of measuring the glycerophosphates in a sample from a subject.

A method of direct transdifferentiation of somatic cells into other somatic cells may be convenient and still have good reproducibility, excellent production efficiency, and short performed time. Methods for direct transdifferentiation of somatic cells into other somatic cells may include: (a) introducing a GLIS family gene, a mutated GLIS family gene or a gene product thereof into somatic cells; and (b) culturing the gene-introduced somatic cells in a culture medium containing a component that induces differentiation of the somatic cells or precursor cells of the somatic cells into other somatic cells.

The invention relates to the use of a growth factor composition comprising one or more recombinant animal growth factor and one or more plant seed protein for cultivating cells for the production of cell culture meat. The invention also relates to a method of cultivating cells for the production of cell culture meat using a growth factor composition that comprises one or more recombinant animal growth factor and one or more plant seed protein.

Polymers suitable for forming carbon nanotube-functionalized reverse thermal gel compositions, compositions including the polymers, and methods of forming and using the polymers and compositions are disclosed. The compositions have reverse thermal gelling properties and transform from a liquid/solution to a gel—e.g., near or below body temperature. The polymers and compositions can be injected into or proximate an area in need of treatment.

Described herein are compositions and methods related to derivation of human notochordal cells differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The inventors have developed a two-step process for generating these iPSC-derived notochordal cells (iNCs), which can provide a renewable source of therapeutic material for use in degenerative disc disease (DDD). As iNCs are capable of reversing DDD and supporting regeneration of intervertebral disc (IVD) tissue based on the understanding that NC cells maintain homeostasis and repair of other IVD cell types such as nuclear pulposus (NP).

Disclosed are means of enhancing therapeutic effects of fibroblast administration through utilization of extracorporeal shock waves. In one embodiment, enhancement of intravenously administered fibroblast therapeutic activity is accomplished by introducing extracorporeal shock waves to the patient in need of therapy. In one specific embodiment, enhancement of the ability of fibroblasts administered intravenously to treat a condition is accomplished by exposure of areas areas affected by the condition to extracorporeal shock waves. In another specific embodiment, the invention provides transfection of IL-12 and/or IL-23 into fibroblasts to augment regenerative activity, including neuroregenerative and anticancer activity. In further embodiments the invention provides augmentation of regenerative activity by induction of T regulatory cells utilizing IL-35 transfection, wherein said T regulatory cells provide an optimized environment for stimulation of regenerative activity.

Embodiments of the disclosure encompass systems, methods, and compositions for producing exosomes from primed mesenchymal stem cells that are expanded in the presence of IFNγ, TNFα, IL-1β, and IL-17. The systems, methods, and compositions ay occur in an automated cell expansion system that allows for controllable parameters and from which cells and exosomes may be harvested at one or more times as part of a particular regimen. In specific embodiments, the exosomes may be provided to an individual in need thereof, including in some cases when the exosomes comprise one or more therapeutic agents.

Provided are methods of deriving a mammalian livestock pluripotent stem cells line, by (a) ex-vivo culturing a mammalian livestock embryo of at least 7 days post-fertilization for a culturing period of at least 4 days and no more than until 21 days post-fertilization so at to obtain an embryo comprising epiblast cell and/or late stage pluripotent stem cell; (b) isolating from the embryo the epiblast cell and/or the late stage pluripotent stem cell, and (c) culturing the epiblast cell and/or the late-stage pluripotent stem cell under conditions suitable for expansion of undifferentiated mammalian livestock pluripotent stem cells to thereby obtain a population of mammalian livestock pluripotent stem cells. Also provided are isolated mammalian livestock pluripotent stem cells, and cells differentiated therefrom.