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.

Disclosed herein are cell cultures and enriched cell populations of endocrine precursor cells, immature pancreatic hormone-expressing cells and mature pancreatic hormone-expressing cells. Also disclosed herein are methods of producing such cell cultures and cell populations.

The present invention relates to a process for producing liver cells, especially liver stem cells, which after injection into a mammal or in vitro form liver cells that are differentiated, especially differentiated into hepatocytes, into cholangiocytes, and preferably also into liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) that can e.g. form blood sinusoidal capillaries. The invention is based on in in vitro producing liver stem cells from a sample of liver tissue, cultivating the liver stem cells in vitro for an increase in cell number. It has been found that the liver stem cells that are produced by the process of the invention can be cultivated and increased in number while maintaining their capability to differentiate into liver cells, especially into hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, and preferably also into LSEC. Accordingly, the process of the invention is suitable for producing liver stem cells that are autologous for the originator of the sample of liver tissue.

Disclosures herein are directed to first compositions comprising exosomes and extracellular matrix components and their use thereof. Also described are methods and kits wherein these first compositions are packaged and used with second compositions comprising mesenchymal stem cells. The first and second compositions are derived from the same tissue source using tangential flow filtration.

A reagent for differentiating somatic cells into alveolar epithelial cells includes an NK2 homeobox family gene expression vector, and a Fox family gene expression vector, a method for manufacturing alveolar epithelial cells, the method including forcing a somatic cell to express an NK2 homeobox family gene and a Fox family gene and culturing the somatic cell after forced expression, an alveolar epithelial cell manufactured by the manufacturing method, and a cell medicine including the alveolar epithelial cell.

Embodiments herein include methods, kits, and compositions for manufacturing extracellular matrix (ECM). In some embodiments, the methods comprise differentiating fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells, expanding the induced pluripotent stem cells, and differentiating the induced pluripotent stem cells into fibroblasts. The fibroblasts can produced mature ECM, which can be isolated and used for medical and/or cosmetic products and procedures.

The present application discloses a method of producing dopaminergic neurons from human stem cells by adding or increasing concentration of vitamin into neuro basal media at approximately Day 20+/−3 of a protocol for differentiating pluripotent stem cells into dopaminergic neurons.

Methods and systems for enhancing cell populations such as chondrocytes for tissue engineering applications, e.g., for production of neocartilage. The methods and systems of the present invention feature the introduction of a hypotonic buffer to the cells during the cell isolation process, which results in neotissue (e.g., neocartilage) constructs that are significantly more mechanically robust as compared to those not treated with hypotonic buffer. The methods and systems may further comprise introducing cytochalasin D to cells purified with a hypotonic buffer, which can further bolster the mechanical properties and matrix deposition of the cells. The methods and systems result in neocartilage engineered from chondrocytes, for example, from fetal aged tissue, having compressive properties on par with native adult articular cartilage.

Factor rich compositions produced from umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells and processes for making and using same are described. The manufacturing process includes utilizing secretory UC MSCs, providing serum and growth factor free growth conditions, and performing filtration of the collected conditioned medium to obtain a clinical grade product.

The present application discloses a cell culture media for growth, maintenance and induction of reversion to a less mature state of a cell comprising a MUC1* activating ligand.