The present invention provides methods to promote the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into insulin producing cells. In particular, the present invention provides a method to produce cells expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endocrine lineage that co-express NKX6.1 and insulin and minimal amounts of glucagon.

Methods for derivation, culture, and maturation of small hepatic progenitor cells are described.

A method of producing an organoid derived from a lung epithelial cell or a lung cancer cell, comprising culturing a sample including the lung epithelial cell or the lung cancer cell in a culture medium, wherein the culture medium contains 0-10% (v/v) extracellular matrix, and a combination of at least one selected from the group consisting of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 10, and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF); bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) inhibitor; and TGFβ inhibitor, and the culture medium is substantially free of feeder cells.

Compositions and methods comprising bioenergetic agents for restoring the quality of aged oocytes, enhancing oogonial stem cells or improving derivatives thereof (e.g., cytoplasm or isolated mitochondria) for use in fertility-enhancing procedures, are described.

The present invention provides novel methods for producing a viral vector. Corresponding viral vector production systems and uses are also provided.

Embodiments of the disclosure include methods and compositions related to prevention of spontaneous miscarriage in an individual. In certain cases, fibroblasts are provided in an effective amount to an individual in need thereof. Alternatively or in addition, lymphocytes are obtained, cultured with fibroblasts, and provided to an individual. Fibroblasts may modulate an immune response in an individual, thereby reducing the risk of spontaneous miscarriage.

Disclosed herein are induced hepatocytes from a trophoblast stem cell, methods for inducing the cells, and compositions thereof. Also disclosed herein are methods of treating a disease or disorder (e.g., liver-associated) by utilizing an induced hepatocyte disclosed herein.

The present invention provides a method for producing neural cells or a neural tissue, including the following steps (1)-(3): (1) a first step of culturing pluripotent stem cells in the absence of feeder cells and in a medium containing 1) a TGFβ family signal transduction pathway inhibiting substance and/or a Sonic hedgehog signal transduction pathway activating substance, and 2) a factor for maintaining undifferentiated state, (2) a second step of culturing the cells obtained in the first step in suspension to form a cell aggregate, and (3) a third step of culturing the aggregate obtained in the second step in suspension in the presence or absence of a differentiation-inducing factor to obtain an aggregate containing neural cells or a neural tissue.

This invention relates to the in vitro differentiation of pluripotent cells into pancreatic progenitors by i) culturing pluripotent cells in a definitive endoderm (DE) medium comprising a TGFp ligand, fibroblast growth factor (FGF), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), a PI3K inhibitor and optionally a GSK3 β inhibitor to produce a population of definitive endoderm cells, ii) culturing the definitive endoderm cells in a first pancreatic medium comprising an activin antagonist; FGF; retinoic acid; and a BMP inhibitor to produce a population of dorsal foregut cells; iii) culturing the dorsal foregut cells in a second pancreatic medium comprising FGF, retinoic acid, a BMP inhibitor, and a hedgehog signalling inhibitor, and; iv) culturing the endoderm cells in a third pancreatic medium comprising FGF. The progenitor cells thus produced may be further differentiated into pancreatic endocrine cells. These methods may be useful, for example, in producing pancreatic cells for therapy or disease modelling.

A method for differentiation of neural stem cells, neurons and GABAergic neurons from mesenchymal stem cells includes culturing the mesenchymal stem cells in a medium containing SB431542, Noggin and LDN193189. By this method, the mesenchymal stem cells are differentiated into neural stem cells, neurons and GABAergic neurons at a high transformation rate without gene manipulation.