The present disclosure concerns methods and compositions for differentiating cells, including adipose cells, into chondrocyte-like cells via in vitro, ex vivo, and/or in vivo mechanical strain. In particular aspects, adipose cells or re-differentiated adipose cells that are chondrocyte-like cells, are delivered to a joint or are shaped into cartilage. In some embodiments, the adipose cells may be delivered to a joint, such as an intervertebral disc, following which the cells differentiate into chondrocyte-like cells to treat dysfunction of cartilage therein, including to repair degenerated discs, for example. In certain aspects, the cells prior to delivery to the individual are managed in the absence of growth factors, in vitro mechanical strain, and/or matrix molecules, for example.

The present invention pertains inter alia to novel efficient methods for culturing mesenchymal stem (stromal) cells (MSCs), wherein the MSCs have maintained and/or enhanced multipotency and/or maintain and/or enhanced immunomodulatory potential. The invention also pertains to cells obtainable by such methods, kits and compositions for carrying out the methods in accordance with the invention, and also medical applications and treatments using said cells.

Provided herein are methods and compositions for disrupting expression of nuclear receptor interacting protein 1 (Nrip1) in adipose cells, and methods of use of such adipose cells for treating, or reducing risk of, a condition associated with an elevated body mass index (BMI).

The present disclosure concerns methods and compositions for differentiating cells, including adipose cells, into chondrocyte-like cells via in vitro, ex vivo, and/or in vivo mechanical strain. In particular aspects, adipose cells or re-differentiated adipose cells that are chondrocyte-like cells, are delivered to a joint or are shaped into cartilage. In some embodiments, the adipose cells may be delivered to a joint, such as an intervertebral disc, following which the cells differentiate into chondrocyte-like cells to treat dysfunction of cartilage therein, including to repair degenerated discs, for example. In certain aspects, the cells prior to delivery to the individual are managed in the absence of growth factors, in vitro mechanical strain, and/or matrix molecules, for example.

Compositions and methods are described herein for chemically inducing cells that express a single pluripotency transcription factor to change their differentiation state and become cardiac cells, cardiac progenitor cells, cardiomyocytes, or a combination thereof.

This invention provides methods of generating induced sensory neurons (iSNs) from non-neuronal cells such as fibroblasts. The invention also provides methods of using iSNs in various therapeutic or non-therapeutic applications, e.g., methods to identify agents or cellular modulations that enhance iSN formation from non-neuronal cells.

The present invention is to provide a 3D cartilage organoid block prepared by differentiating mesenchymal stem cells into 3D spheroid cartilage tissues, a basic unit for the 3D cartilage spheroid block. The inventors found that both the amount of GAG matrix and the expression of the collagen type2 increased. Therefore, the method of this invention provides clinically applicable cartilage tissues by effectively enhancing the function of the cartilage differentiation constructs according to 2D culture. The 3D cartilage organoid block can be usefully applied to the area, such as, articular cartilage regeneration and plastic surgery, where cartilage tissues restoration is required.

The disclosure provides a method of generating non-clustered stem cells. Cluster disruption prior to mesoderm differentiation increases yield and efficiency in hEMP and T cell differentiation. Thus, this method allows the development of improved methods of hEMP and T cell differentiation.

The present invention concerns a method of producing brown/beige adipocytes from white adipose tissue cells and/or mesenchymal stem cells, in particular from subcutaneous white adipose tissue cells, and the use of said brown/beige adipocytes in a cell based therapy of a subject or in screening platforms.

The present invention is: a method for preparing adherent cells acclimated to suspension culture, including a step of culturing the adherent cells in contact with an alicyclic structure-containing polymer formed article; a method of producing a nucleic acid or a protein encoded by a foreign gene by culturing the adherent cells acclimated to suspension culture in accordance with the aforementioned method; a promotor for suspension culture acclimation of the adherent cells, composed of an alicyclic structure-containing polymer formed article; the use of an alicyclic structure-containing polymer formed article for acclimating an adherent cells to suspension culture in a liquid medium; a vessel for suspension culture acclimation of an adherent cells, having at least a bottom surface composed of an alicyclic structure-containing polymer formed article; a method for inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition, including a step of culturing adherent epithelial cells in contact with an alicyclic structure-containing polymer formed article; and so on.