There is provided a method of differentiating an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) into a renal proximal tubular cell (PTC)-like cell. The method comprises culturing an undifferentiated iPSC in a renal epithelial cell culture medium in the presence of one or more extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules, bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP2) and bone morphogenic protein 7 (BMP7), for a period of from about 8 to about 10 days, under conditions sufficient to induce differentiation of the iPSC into a PTC-like cell. A cell population of differentiated PTC-like cells is also provided, as well as uses and methods of use of the cell population.

The present invention relates to a method for generating semi-mature dendritic cells by treating immature dendritic cells with the auto-antigen, cytokine, and PGE2 as a target for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, particularly rheumatoid arthritis, in which the levels of NR4A2 and/or UBASH3B at gene or protein are increased more than 2-fold compared to the immature dendritic cells In addition, the present invention relates to a cell therapeutic agent for treating or preventing autoimmune diseases, containing the semi-mature dendritic cells as an active ingredient. The present invention increases the therapeutic efficacy on rheumatoid arthritis retaining responsiveness to the same auto-antigen that being used for preparing semi-mature dendritic cells, thereby enabling cell therapy.

The present invention discloses cryopreserved recombinant cells for screening drug candidates that transiently overexpress one or more drug transporter proteins and/or drug metabolizing enzymes. Advantageously, such cells provide a cost-efficient consumable product that streamlines the process of screening whether drug candidates are substrates or inhibitors of drug transporter proteins and/or drug metabolizing enzymes.

The present invention discloses cryopreserved recombinant cells for screening drug candidates that transiently overexpress one or more drug transporter proteins and/or drug metabolizing enzymes. Advantageously, such cells provide a cost-efficient consumable product that streamlines the process of screening whether drug candidates are substrates or inhibitors of drug transporter proteins and/or drug metabolizing enzymes.

The disclosure provides a method of producing modified stem memory T cells (e.g. CAR-T cells) for administration to a subject as, for example an adoptive cell therapy.

The present invention relates to the field of pluripotent stem cell culture and methods facilitate pluripotent stem cell culture at industrial levels.

Described is the efficient and robust generation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) and oligodendrocytes from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). The protocols provided recapitulate the major steps of oligodendrocyte differentiation, from neural stem cells to OLIG2.sup.+progenitors, and then to 04.sup.+ OPCs, in a significantly shorter time than the 120-150 days required by previous protocols. Furthermore, 04+ OPCs are able to differentiate into MBP.sup.+mature oligodendrocytes in vitro, and to myelinate axons in vivo when injected into immuno-compromised Shiverer mice, providing proof of concept that transplantation of PSC-derived cells for remyelination is technically feasible.

Methods for synthesizing macroscale 3D heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube materials (such as boron doped carbon nanotube materials) and compositions thereof. Macroscopic quantities of three-dimensionally networked heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube materials are directly grown using an aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition method. The porous heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube material is created by doping of heteroatoms (such as boron) in the nanotube lattice during growth, which influences the creation of elbow joints and branching of nanotubes leading to the three dimensional super-structure. The super-hydrophobic heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube sponge is strongly oleophilic and an soak up large quantities of organic solvents and oil. The trapped oil can be burnt off and the heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube material can be used repeatedly as an oil removal scaffold. Optionally, the heteroatom-doped carbon nanotubes in the heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube materials can be welded to form one or more macroscale 3D carbon nanotubes.

Disclosed is a method for culturing mesenchymal stem cells, comprising culturing mesenchymal stem cells in a medium containing calcium in a concentration of from 2.1 to 3.8 mM and magnesium in a concentration of from 1.0 to 3.0 mM under a hypoxic condition of 2 to 5% oxygen. The culturing method can increase the population of mesenchymal stem cells even with a small number of passages by improving mesenchymal stem cells in proliferative capacity and viability. In addition, the mesenchymal stem cells prepared by the culturing method are effectively used not only as a safe cell therapeutic agent due to their lacking immunogenicity, but also as a cartilage regenerating medicine owing to their excellent secretion of cytokines.

Provided are methods and kits for activating T cells, the method comprising providing a population of T cells, adding a plurality of first agents, where the first agent comprises a T-cell activator and a first binder moiety, and adding a second agent comprising a plurality of capture oligomers, where at least a segment of at least one of the plurality of capture oligomers is capable of associating with the first binder moiety. The method further comprises incubating the population of T cells, whereby at least a portion of the population of T cells is activated.