An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for stably, inexpensively, and safely culturing stem cells having a differentiation ability while maintaining an undifferentiated state. The present invention relates to a medium for culturing stem cells, comprising at least one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of a ROCK inhibitor, a PKC inhibitor, a histone methyltransferase inhibitor, and a retinoic acid receptor agonist, and not containing a growth factor or having a low growth factor concentration; a method for culturing stem cells using the medium; a growth promoter for stem cell; as well as a cell composition containing stem cells or differentiated cells therefrom; and a method for producing the cell composition.

The invention provides methods and compositions that improve the success of organ transplantation. The methods and compositions are directed to exposing a desired organ to stem cells prior to, during, and/or after transplantation. In one embodiment, the stem cells reduce the deleterious effects of ischemia on an organ designated to be harvested for transplantation or that has been harvested for transplantation. In another embodiment in which an organ designated for transplantation is perfused ex vivo, the method involves reducing ischemic reperfusion injury by perfusing the organ with a medium that contains stem cells.

The invention provides methods and compositions that improve the success of organ transplantation. The methods and compositions are directed to exposing a desired organ to stem cells prior to, during, and/or after transplantation. In one embodiment, the stem cells reduce the deleterious effects of ischemia on an organ designated to be harvested for transplantation or that has been harvested for transplantation. In another embodiment in which an organ designated for transplantation is perfused ex vivo, the method involves reducing ischemic reperfusion injury by perfusing the organ with a medium that contains stem cells.

Various embodiments of the invention provide methods of treating diabetes and other glucose regulation disorders. In one embodiment, the method comprises removing L-cells from a donor, obtaining stem cells from a patient, and culturing the L-cells in the presence of the stem cells under conditions such that the stem cells differentiate into stem cell-derived L-cells (SCDLC). An amount of the SCDLC is introduced into the patient sufficient to cause a lowering of the patient's blood glucose level after ingestion of food. In another embodiment, the method comprises removing K-cells from a donor, obtaining stem cells from a patient, and culturing the K-cells in the presence of the stem cells under conditions such that the stem cells differentiate into stem cell-derived K-cells (SCDKC). An amount of the SCDKC is introduced into the patient sufficient to cause a lowering of the patient's blood glucose level after ingestion of food.

Various embodiments of the invention provide methods of treating diabetes and other glucose regulation disorders. In one embodiment, the method comprises removing L-cells from a donor, obtaining stem cells from a patient, and culturing the L-cells in the presence of the stem cells under conditions such that the stem cells differentiate into stem cell-derived L-cells (SCDLC). An amount of the SCDLC is introduced into the patient sufficient to cause a lowering of the patient's blood glucose level after ingestion of food. In another embodiment, the method comprises removing K-cells from a donor, obtaining stem cells from a patient, and culturing the K-cells in the presence of the stem cells under conditions such that the stem cells differentiate into stem cell-derived K-cells (SCDKC). An amount of the SCDKC is introduced into the patient sufficient to cause a lowering of the patient's blood glucose level after ingestion of food.

A composition including adult pluripotent olfactory stem cells is provided. The adult pluripotent olfactory stem cells are obtained by culturing a cell mixture from an olfactory tissue of a mammal in media containing growth factors and then isolating cells which express B-lymphoma moloney murine leukemia virus insertion region-1 (Bmi-1).

A method comprising obtaining a donor composition from a donor subject wherein the donor composition comprises a plurality of adult stem cell types; obtaining a receiver composition from a receiver subject wherein the receiver composition comprises a plurality of adult stem cell types; and co-culturing the donor composition and receiver composition wherein co-culturing comprises contacting the receiver composition a cell-free portion of the donor composition to produce a restored composition. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising a restored composition.

Disclosed are compositions of matter useful for treatment of stroke derived from amniotic fluid stem cell produced factors. In one embodiment the invention teaches the use of products derived from amniotic fluid stem cells cultured under basal conditions. In another embodiment the invention teaches the utilization of amniotic stem cell derived products from said amniotic stem cells cultured under conditions of stress. Said amniotic stem cell derived products include small molecules, proteins, peptides, conditioned media, microvesicles, including exosomes and apoptotic bodies. In one embodiment, the invention teaches administration of amniotic fluid stem cells that have been exposed to a stress condition.

The invention provides methods and compositions that improve the success of organ transplantation. The methods and compositions are directed to exposing a desired organ to stem cells prior to, during, and/or after transplantation. In one embodiment, the stem cells reduce the deleterious effects of ischemia on an organ designated to be harvested for transplantation or that has been harvested for transplantation. In another embodiment in which an organ designated for transplantation is perfused ex vivo, the method involves reducing ischemic reperfusion injury by perfusing the organ with a medium that contains stem cells.

Various embodiments of the invention provide methods of treating diabetes and other glucose regulation disorders. In one embodiment, the method comprises removing L-cells from a donor, obtaining stem cells from a patient, and culturing the L-cells in the presence of the stem cells under conditions such that the stem cells differentiate into stem cell-derived L-cells (SCDLC). An amount of the SCDLC is introduced into the patient sufficient to cause a lowering of the patient's blood glucose level after ingestion of food. In another embodiment, the method comprises removing K-cells from a donor, obtaining stem cells from a patient, and culturing the K-cells in the presence of the stem cells under conditions such that the stem cells differentiate into stem cell-derived K-cells (SCDKC). An amount of the SCDKC is introduced into the patient sufficient to cause a lowering of the patient's blood glucose level after ingestion of food.