The invention relates to purified, tissue-specific progenitors, methods of making and using such tissue-specific progenitors.

The invention relates to purified, tissue-specific progenitors, methods of making and using such tissue-specific progenitors.

Disclosed herein are methods, compositions, kits, and agents useful for inducing β cell maturation, and isolated populations of SC-β cells for use in various applications, such as cell therapy.

The present invention relates to a method for direct reprogramming from somatic cells into pancreatic beta cells by using microRNA and small-molecule materials. The inventors of the present invention confirmed that, as a result of having attempted direct reprogramming upon co-treatment of microRNA and small-molecules (e.g., various differentiation-inducing materials), the expression level of PDX1 remarkably increased in pancreatic beta cells, and, when pancreatic beta-like cells were induced using such a method, direct reprogramming was performed with very high yield. In addition, since autologous cells are used, the present invention has the advantages of no occurrence of immune rejection responses and a low possibility of developing cancer, and thus is expected to be effectively used in the development of safer cellular therapeutic agents. In addition, pancreatic beta cells produced by the present invention are expected to be effectively used in a cellular composition for preventing, treating and ameliorating diabetes or pancreatic cancer.

Disclosed herein are methods, compositions, kits, and agents useful for inducing β cell maturation, and isolated populations of SC-β cells for use in various applications, such as cell therapy.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel method for inducing the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into an insulin-positive cell population. The present invention provides a method for producing an insulin-positive cell population, comprising differentiating a pancreatic progenitor cell population or a cell population at a later stage of differentiation in a medium containing a CDK8/19 inhibitor.

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.

Disclosed herein are methods for expanding and potentiating intra-pancreatic tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal/stem cells in the presence of TNF-, DMOG, or both, to obtain IPTD-MSCs having enhanced pro-angiogenic and/or anti-inflammatory properties. Also disclosed are therapeutic applications of these IPTD-MSCs.

Disclosed herein are methods, compositions, kits, and agents useful for inducing cell maturation, and isolated populations of SC- cells for use in various applications, such as cell therapy.

The present invention provides methods, cell cultures and differentiation media to promote differentiation of pluripotent stem cells to pancreatic endocrine cells of a mature phenotype. The resulting pancreatic endocrine cells express single hormonal insulin, PDX1, NKX6.1, and MAFA. In one or more differentiation stages, culturing may be carried out in a culture vessel at the air-liquid interface.