The present invention relates to compositions comprising at least one in vitro-developed -cell and a CXCL12 polypeptide encapsulated in a microcapsule. The invention further relates to methods for treating diabetes, accelerating the normalization of hyperglycemia, and preventing fibrotic pericapsular overgrowth of microcapsules using transplanted human stem cell-derived cells co-encapsulated with a CXCL12 polypeptide.

The present invention relates generally to a gene expression system utilizing an alphavirus replicon and T7 promoter. The system is capable of expressing proteins in the cell cytoplasm without integrating the gene of interest into the genome of a host cell. The invention has a wide range of applications such as producing induced pluripotent cells and vaccines against pathogens and cancers.

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.

Methods of implanting therapeutic cells in a subject and methods of preparing pancreatic islet cells for implantation into a subject, prior to implantation into a subject, are provided herein.

The invention features compositions and methods that are useful for generating human hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) and methods of using such cells for the treatment of diseases associated with a loss in liver cell number or function.

Improved hybrid neurovascular spheroids and methods for making the same are provided. In some embodiments of a method for making a hybrid neurovascular spheroid, the method includes i) propagating cortical cells to form a cortical spheroid; ii) propagating endothelial cells to form an endothelial spheroid; iii) propagating mesenchymal stem cells to form a mesenchymal cell culture; and iv) combining the cortical spheroid, endothelial spheroid, and mesenchymal spheroid under conditions to form the hybrid neurovascular spheroid.

The invention provides compositions and methods of culturing Natural Killer Cells that increase viability, proliferation and cytotoxicity following cryopreservation.

Disclosed are methods of preparing CD34+CD43+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) in vitro according to embodiments of the invention. Also disclosed are methods of differentiating CD34+CD43+ hematopoietic progenitor cells to hematopoietic lineage cells according to embodiments of the invention. Also disclosed are methods of treating or preventing a condition in a mammal, e.g., cancer, according to embodiments of the invention.

To produce and/or maintain nave pluripotent stem cells capable of highly expressing genes important for maintaining an undifferentiated state, which could not be achieved by known methods for producing pluripotent stem cells. The present invention can produce nave pluripotent stem cells capable of maintaining an undifferentiated state by introducing and allowing transient expression of six genes (Oct3/4, Klf4, c-Myc, Sox2, Nanog, and Klf2) among the so-called initializing factors, and further performing culturing in a medium containing LIF, an MEK inhibitor, a GSK3 inhibitor, a cAMP production promoter, a TGF- inhibitor and a PKC inhibitor. Thus, the problem of the present invention can be solved.

A bottom surface of a container (1) formed of a flexible material is partially raised to be partitioned it into plural compartments (10), and cells are cultured in each compartment (10). In due time, the compartments (10) are removed to expand a culture area in the container. As a result, the cell density at the time of culture can be maintained at an appropriate level, and an operation of transferring cells from one culture container to another culture container at the time of proliferating cells in a large amount can be eliminated, whereby damage on cells and risk of contamination can be reduced.