Provided herein are methods relating to making non-natively occurring myogenic cells. For example, provided herein are methods for transdifferentiating a liver-derived cell to a non-natively occurring myogenic cell. In another example, the method relates to using dedifferentiation to make non-natively occurring myogenic cells.

This invention relates to the efficient generation of cholangiocyte progenitor (CP) cells. Foregut stem cells (FSCs) are cultured in a hepatic induction medium comprising bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and a TGFβ signalling inhibitor to produce a population of hepatoblasts. The hepatoblasts are then cultured in a biliary induction medium comprising fibroblast growth factor (FGF), retinoic acid and a TGFβ ligand to produce a population of cholangiocyte progenitors (CPs). The cholangiocyte progenitors (CPs) may be matured into cholangiocyte-like cells (CLCs) that display functional properties of Common Bile Duct (CBD) cholangiocytes. Methods, kits, cell populations and uses of these cell populations are provided.

The invention relates to differentiation methods for progenitor cells, e.g. mammalian epithelial stem cells, differentiation media for use in said methods, organoids and cells obtainable by said methods and uses, including therapeutic uses, thereof.

Disclosed herein is a culture system for chemical induction of pluripotent stem cells, comprising a basic culture medium and a composition for performing chemical induction of reprogramming process. The said composition comprises a thymine analogue, a cAMP activator, a TGF- receptor inhibitor, a bone morphogenetic protein, a RA receptor activator, a GSK3 inhibitor and a basic fibroblast growth factor. And the said culture system is free of serum. By using the culture system as described herein, there is no need to frequently replate cells during culture, such that culturing process is simplified and loss of cells resulting from replating cells is reduced. As the culture system is free of serum, subsequent collection of pluripotent stem cells and molecular mechanism analysis are simplified, thereby facilitating establishment of no animal origin culture systems for induction of pluripotent stem cells.

Methods and materials are described for producing immortalized hybrid cells composed of a fusion of immortalized multi-lineage progenitor cells (MLPC) and primary hepatocytes. The hybrid cells express the biological activity of the primary hepatocytes and the immortality and expansion capacities of the immortalized MLPC. The methods of culture and expansion of the resultant hybrid cells and the methods to confirm the characteristics of the hybrid cells are described.

A method for producing pancreatic endocrine cells, the method including introducing one or more genes of a GLIS family or one or more gene products thereof and a Neurogenin3 gene or one or more gene products thereof into somatic cells.

Disclosed herein is a method for manufacturing a population of human insulin producing cells from non-pancreatic -cells, wherein the resulting insulin producing cells have increased insulin content, or increased glucose regulated secretion of insulin, or a combination of both.

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 for obtaining epithelial organoids is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises culturing one or more epithelial ducts, epithelial duct fragments and/or epithelial stem cells isolated therefrom in contact with an extracellular matrix in the presence of a basal medium, wherein the medium is free of FGF and/or nicotinamide. Organoids obtained by the methods described herein, and uses thereof, are also provided.

The present invention relates to a human adult hepatocyte reprogramming medium composition and provides a method for inducing hepatic progenitor cells from human adult hepatocytes by means of a combination of chemicals.