Methods of generating and expanding human hemangio-colony forming cells in vitro and methods of expanding and using such cells are disclosed. The methods permit the production of large numbers of hemangio-colony forming cells as well as derivative cells, such as hematopoietic and endothelial cells. The cells obtained by the methods disclosed may be used for a variety of research, clinical, and therapeutic applications.

Provided are a method of preparing a stem cell-derived epidermal progenitor cell conditioned medium, the method including: differentiating stem cells to stem cell-derived epidermal progenitor cells by culturing the stem cells in a differentiation medium containing ascorbic acid and hydrocortisone; producing a culture of stem cell-derived epidermal progenitor cells by culturing the differentiated stem cell-derived epidermal progenitor cells in a medium; and recovering the stem cell-derived epidermal progenitor cell conditioned medium from the culture of the stem cell-derived epidermal progenitor cells, a stem cell-derived epidermal progenitor cell conditioned medium prepared by the method, and a method of producing a protein from stem cell-derived epidermal progenitor cells, the method including the method of preparing the stem cell-derived epidermal progenitor cell conditioned medium.

Methods for production of platelets from pluripotent stem cells, such as human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are provided. These methods may be performed without forming embryoid bodies or clusters of pluripotent stem cells, and may be performed without the use of stromal inducer cells. Additionally, the yield and/or purity can be greater than has been reported for prior methods of producing platelets from pluripotent stem cells. Also provided are compositions and pharmaceutical preparations comprising platelets, preferably produced from pluripotent stem cells.

Disclosed herein are human hepatocytes for example isolated human hepatic progenitor cells, artificial tissue or organ thereof, and kits or compositions thereof. Also disclosed herein are various methods of using a human hepatocyte disclosed herein.

Increasing therapeutic activity of fibroblasts through suppression of complement activation is disclosed. Embodiments of the disclosure teach that viability of fibroblasts in blood and/or in vivo is increased by inhibition of complement activation. In another embodiment, the blockade of complement is utilized to enhance ability of fibroblasts to suppress inflammation, stimulate generation of T regulatory cell, and inhibit pathologic T cell responses. Other enhancements of fibroblast activity disclosed as a results of complement activation include stimulation of cytokine production, release of antimicrobial and/or antiviral proteins, as well as enhancement of regenerative activities.

In order to induce aging while cutting the costs associated with adding cytokines at different aging stages, in a system for aging induction including a first culture chamber for perfusing, with a culture medium, a subject of aging-induction, the subject of aging-induction being derived from a living organism; a second culture chamber for perfusing, with a culture medium, a secretor that secretes a cytokine; and a control device for aging induction including a detection unit, a memory unit and a control unit, a protocol for aging induction defining a procedure of aging induction is stored, and in the control unit, an aging state of the subject of aging-induction is detected with a detection unit, and based on the protocol for aging induction, a flow rate at which the culture medium containing the cytokine secreted by the secretor is supplied to the subject of aging-induction is controlled according to the aging state of the subject of aging-induction.

The present invention relates to regulatory T cell and uses thereof. By their immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory activities, regulatory T cells play a central role in peripheral tolerance and thus critically prevent the development of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. The inventors showed that Foxp3+CD4+ Tregs express high levels of LTα, which negatively regulates their immunosuppressive signature. The inventors have demonstrated that the adoptive transfer of Tregs previously incubated with soluble lymphotoxin-β receptor in mice protects from dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. Thus, the number of cells to be injected in adoptive transfer may be reduced and a transfection or transduction step avoided, which represents a technical facilitation. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of treating or preventing autoimmune disorders and inflammatory-associated cancers in a subject in need thereof comprising the step of administrating to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of regulatory T cells which have been previously incubated with effective amount of soluble lymphotoxin-β receptor.

Methods for production of platelets from pluripotent stem cells, such as human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are provided. These methods may be performed without forming embryoid bodies or clusters of pluripotent stem cells, and may be performed without the use of stromal inducer cells. Additionally, the yield and/or purity can be greater than has been reported for prior methods of producing platelets from pluripotent stem cells. Also provided are compositions and pharmaceutical preparations comprising platelets, preferably produced from pluripotent stem cells.

A cell culture apparatus for conducting cell culture in which a culture medium is supplied together with cells to a container formed of a flexible material, wherein, a base having a flat mounting surface that holds the container is provided, partition pieces that can be protruded from the mounting surface for a prescribed height are embedded in the base, and when the partition pieces are accommodated into the base, upper end surfaces of the partition pieces are flushed with the mounting surface.

The invention provides compositions and methods useful for mobilizing populations of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells within a donor, as well as for determining whether samples of mobilized cells are suitable for release for ex vivo expansion and/or therapeutic use. In accordance with the compositions and methods described herein, mobilized hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells can be withdrawn from a donor and administered to a patient for the treatment of various stem cell disorders, including hematopoietic diseases, metabolic disorders, cancers, and autoimmune diseases, among others. In certain embodiments, the compositions and methods described herein lead to the mobilization of a population of CD34.sup.dim cells that have immunosuppressive effects and that can reduce the incidence of graft vs. host disease.