The present disclosure describes platelet compositions for storage and methods of storing platelet compositions in the cold and room temperature. The platelet compositions including platelets and one or more Ca.sup.++ chelators can be stored in the cold for longer than three days. The platelet compositions can be used to treat subjects with a platelet disease or disorder.

Disclosed herein are methods for producing genetically modified cells expressing HLA-G (e.g., cell surface HLA-G) persistently, and nucleic acid compositions useful for generating such genetically modified cells. Also disclosed are cell therapy methods that utilize genetically modified cells that express HLA-G persistently. The HLA-G genetic modifications described herein provide the cells with characteristics of reduced immunogenicity and/or improved immunosuppression, such that these cells have the promise of being universal or improved donor cells for transplants, cellular and tissue regeneration or reconstruction, and other therapies.

Provided herein are genetically modified pigs, porcine organs, tissue, and cells having a reduced propensity to cause a rejection response in a human subject following xenotransplantation. In particular, provided herein are genetically modified pigs lacking nonGal xenoantigens, and porcine cells, tissues, and organs obtained from such genetically modified pigs that are suitable for transplantation into a human. Also provided herein are methods of improving a rejection related symptom in a human subject.

Provided herein is a method of diagnosing or prognosing an epilepsy or epilepsy-related disorder. Also provided herein is a method of treating an epilepsy or epilepsy-related disorder. Further provided are non-epileptic and epileptic neural stem cells and cell cultures.

The invention provides double knockout transgenic pigs (GT/CMAH-KO pigs) lacking expression of any functional ?GAL and CMAH. Double knockout GT/CMAH-KO transgenic organs, tissues and cells are also provided. Methods of making and using the GT/CMAH-KO pigs and tissue are also provided.

The present invention provides ungulates, including pigs, expressing CTLA4-Ig, as well as tissue, organs, cells and cell lines derived from such animals. Such animals, tissues, organs and cells can be used in research and medical therapy, including xenotransplanation. In addition, methods are provided to prepare organs, tissues and cells expressing the CTLA4-Ig for use in xenotransplantation, and nucleic acid constructs and vectors useful therein.

The present invention relates to methods of treating diabetes in a human subject comprising the use of pancreatic islets or of embryonic pancreatic tissue of a transgenic animal, wherein said transgenic animal contains a polynucleotide sequence encoding a CTLA4 peptide-immunoglobulin fusion, preferably LEA29Y, and expresses said CTLA4 peptide-immunoglobulin fusion in a tissue-specific manner in pancreatic islets.

It is revealed that an organ such as pancreas can be regenerated by utilizing a fact that the deficiency of an organ is complemented by injecting an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS cell) into a developed blastocyst in a blastocyst complementation method. Thus, the present invention has solved the above-described object. This provides a method for producing a target organ, using an iPS cell, in a living body of a non-human mammal having an abnormality associated with a lack of development of the target organ in a development stage, the target organ produced being derived from a different individual mammal that is an individual different from the non-human mammal.

Genetically modified cells, tissues, and organs for treating or preventing diseases are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of making the genetically modified cells and non-human animals.

The presently subject matter provides novel human sequence antibodies against human CTLA-4 and methods of treating human diseases, infections and other conditions using these antibodies.