A reagent for differentiating somatic cells into alveolar epithelial cells includes an NK2 homeobox family gene expression vector, and a Fox family gene expression vector.

The present invention pertains to hepatocytes, liver progenitor cells, cholangiocytes, liver sinusoidal endothelial progenitor cells, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, hepatic stellate progenitor cells, hepatic stellate cells, and liver cellular tissue models, as well as to methods for preparing these cells. The present invention also pertains to a cell fraction comprising liver progenitor cells, liver sinusoidal endothelial progenitor cells, or hepatic stellate progenitor cells. The present invention also pertains to a pharmaceutical composition or kit comprising the above-mentioned cells, a liver cellular tissue model, or a cell fraction. The present invention also pertains to: a method for screening liver disease treatment agents; a method for evaluating the hepatotoxicity of drugs, hepatocytes for infectious disease models, and a method for preparing the same; infectious disease model tissues and a method for preparing the same; as well as a method for screening infectious liver disease treatment agents.

A method of producing an induced pluripotent stem cell includes introducing into a somatic cell one or more non-viral expression vectors. The vectors include one or more of an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, a Sox family gene, a Myc family gene, a Lin family gene, and Nanog gene. The somatic cell is then cultured in a medium that supports pluripotent stem cells. At least a portion of the one or more introduced non-viral expression vectors is not substantially integrated in the chromosome.

Provided is a method for producing cerebral cortex neurons from pluripotent stem cells. Provided is a method for producing cerebral cortex neurons from pluripotent stem cells, comprising (i) a step of performing a suspension culture of pluripotent stem cells in a culture medium containing a TGF inhibitor, bFGF, a Wnt inhibitor, and a BMP inhibitor, (ii) a step of performing a suspension culture of the cells obtained in the step (i) in a culture medium containing a Wnt inhibitor and a BMP inhibitor, and (iii) a step of further culturing the cells obtained in the step (ii).

The present invention provides muscle-derived progenitor cells that show long-term survival following transplantation into body tissues and which can augment non-soft tissue following introduction (e.g. via injection, transplantation, or implantation) into a site of non-soft tissue (e.g. bone). Also provided are methods of isolating muscle-derived progenitor cells, and methods of genetically modifying the cells for gene transfer therapy. The invention further provides methods of using compositions comprising muscle-derived progenitor cells for the augmentation and bulking of mammalian, including human, bone tissues in the treatment of various functional conditions, including osteoporosis, Paget's Disease, osteogenesis imperfecta, bone fracture, osteomalacia, decrease in bone trabecular strength, decrease in bone cortical strength and decrease in bone density with old age.

Provided are an in vitro fibrosis model, a method of preparing the in vitro model, and use of the in vitro model, the in vitro model including a cell cluster differentiated from mesenchymal cells, wherein the cell cluster exhibits pathological characteristics of fibrosis.

The present disclosure relates to a novel musculoskeletal stem cell (MSSC) differentiated from an ESC (embryonic stem cell) or an iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cell). The musculoskeletal stem cell of the present disclosure can be easily induced from a human embryonic stem cell or a human-derived pluripotent stem cell and can be effectively differentiated not only into bone but also into cartilage, tendon and muscle. Accordingly, it can be usefully used for prevention or treatment of various musculoskeletal diseases.

The present invention provides a method for producing platelets, and the method comprises a step of culturing megakaryocytes in a culture solution in a culture vessel, wherein the culture solution is stirred with a stirrer in the culture step.

The present disclosure is directed to a bioreactor or fermenter for the culturing of cells or microorganisms in suspension in a liquid medium in industrial scale comprising a vessel containing the culture in a liquid medium having a determined filling height; a stirrer provided in the vessel to stir the liquid medium; a first sparger arranged in the bottom portion of the vessel; and a second or optional more spargers provided above the first sparger to supply additional air bubbles and/or additional oxygen gas bubbles continuously to the liquid medium whereby the second sparger is located at a position in the bioreactor or fermenter above the first sparger in a predefined distance ?. It is also described a process for the independent management of dissolved CO.sub.2 and O.sub.2, by selecting a suitable modified gas flow rate q.sub.mod.

The disclosure provides methods and compositions for reprogramming fibroblasts into limb progenitors.