Disclosed are compositions and methods for genetically engineering NK cells.

The invention provides an agent for promoting adhesion of a corneal endothelial cell, containing a Rho kinase inhibitor, as well as a culture medium for a corneal endothelial cell, a solution for preservation of cornea, and a method of producing a corneal endothelial preparation, which includes culturing the corneal endothelial cell using the aforementioned culture medium.

Embodiments of the current invention include a hydrogel formed from crosslinked polyethylene glycol into which acrylated glucose oxidase has been immobilized through crosslinking to the gel. These hydrogels can be used to create hypoxia under ambient conditions for at least 72 hours and can be used to create hypoxic gradients. These embodiments permit the study of cells under a variety of hypoxic conditions.

The present invention provides muscle-derived progenitor cells (MDCs) that show long-term survival following transplantation into body tissues and which can augment soft tissue following introduction into a site of soft tissue. Also provided are methods of isolating MDCs. The invention further provides methods of using compositions comprising MDCs for the augmentation and bulking of mammalian, including human, soft tissues in the treatment of various cosmetic or functional conditions, including malformation, injury, weakness, disease, or dysfunction. The invention also relates to uses of MDCs for the treatment of cosmetic or functional conditions, including, but not limited to skeletal muscle weakness, muscular dystrophy, muscle atrophy, spasticity, myoclonus and myalgia. The invention also relates to the novel use of MDCs for the increase of skeletal muscle.

Certain aspects of the current invention are directed to a reprogramming of somatic cells to provide therapeutic cells for treatment of diseases such as retinopathies. Certain aspects of the invention are directed to reprogramming compositions, as well as the use of such compositions, for reprogramming somatic cells, the compositions including five small molecules (5C) that can chemically induce conversion to other target cell types.

Methods and compositions for modifying glycans (e.g., glycans expressed on the surface of live cells or cell particles) are provided herein.

The invention refers to a method for preparing novel and powerful regulatory B cells (Breg-nov) by contacting cells obtained from the immune system with phosphorothioate oligonucleotide. Methods of suppressing-autoimmunity or suppressing acute or chronic inflammation or repairing a damaged organ or tissue in mammals, including humans, by administering to the mammals in need, Breg-nov cells obtained as herein described.

Provided are methods for activating an antigen-presenting cell and eliciting an immune response by inducing an inducible pattern recognition receptor adapter, or adapter fragment, and CD40 activity. Also provided are nucleic acid compositions comprising sequences coding for chimeric proteins that include an inducible CD40 peptide and an inducible pattern recognition receptor adapter or adapter fragment.

The present invention provides methods to promote the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. In particular, the present invention provides an improved method for the formation of pancreatic endoderm, pancreatic hormone expressing cells and pancreatic hormone secreting cells. The present invention also provides methods to promote the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells without the use of a feeder cell layer.

The present invention provides an efficient process for culturing viruses in the presence of an endonuclease and for producing vaccines, typically from live attenuated viruses, under conditions to reduce the presence of host cell DNA and eliminate the need for a post-harvest DNA digestion step.