Well-defined, xeno-free culture media which comprise a TGF-beta isoform or the chimera formed between IL6 and the soluble IL6 receptor (IL6RIL6), which are capable of maintaining stem cells, and particularly, human embryonic stem cells, in an undifferentiated state are provided. Also provided are cell cultures comprising the culture media and the stem cells and methods of expanding and deriving embryonic stem cells in such well-defined, xeno-free culture media. In addition, the present invention provides methods of differentiating ESCs or EBs formed therefrom for the generation of lineage specific cells.

The present disclosure relates to a composition for increasing the biological activity of stem cells using mixture 4F. Stem cells treated with mixture 4F according to the present disclosure not only acquire undifferentiated characteristics (stemness), but also have the advantage of improving cell proliferative ability and mobility, and thus, after being transplanted into a body, the stem cells can improve cell survival and engraftment and further enhance the ability to regenerate blood vessels and tissues. Accordingly, the stem cells can have various applications in the fields of stem cell differentiation and ischemic disease prevention or treatment.

A method of preparing hair follicle-derived conditioned medium which comprises one or more bioactive factors, wherein the hair follicle is retrieved from a subject non-invasively, cultured in a culture medium for a duration sufficient for a hair follicle-derived cell to secrete the one or more bioactive factors to condition the medium. A hair follicle-derived conditioned medium comprising one or more bioactive factors secreted by a hair follicle-derived cell retrieved from a subject non-invasively. A composition comprising said conditioned medium. Use of said conditioned medium and composition for therapeutic or cosmetic treatment.

Provided herein are methods of producing a distinct bilayer culture of retinal epithelial cells (RPE) with photoreceptor cells and/or photoreceptor precursor cells (PR/PRP). Further provided herein is a therapy comprising transplantation of the RPE and PR/PRP bilayer as well as methods for testing candidate drugs using the bilayer.

Methods, kits and compositions for differentiating pluripotent stem cells into cells of endothelial and hematopoietic lineages are disclosed.