Disclosed herein are kits comprising transcription factors for inducing a fibroblast cell into an induced embryonic neural progenitor cell. The induced embryonic neural progenitor cell is then capable of differentiating into an astrocyte, an oligodendrocyte or a neuron. Also disclosed are the uses of the kit as a platform for selecting a drug candidate to treat neurological diseases.

A population of human polygonal RPE cells is disclosed. At least 95% of the cells thereof co-express premelanosome protein (PMEL17) and cellular retinaldehyde binding protein (CRALBP), wherein the trans-epithelial electrical resistance of the cells is greater than 100 ohms. Methods of generating same are also disclosed.

The invention relates to in vitro cell culture methods for expanding epithelial cells from head and neck tissue, including head and neck tumour tissue, to obtain organoids. The invention relates to culture media suitable for use with said methods, organoids obtainable or obtained by said methods and uses of said culture methods, media and organoids in drug discovery and validation, toxicity assays, diagnostics and therapy.

An isolated pluripotent trophoblast stem (TS) cell preparation, and methods of preparing the cell preparation and a disease model for a pregnancy related disorder are provided. The cell preparation includes cells that are capable of indefinite proliferation in vitro in an undifferentiated state and capable of differentiation into cells of the trophoblast lineage in vitro or in vivo.

The present invention relates to a composition and method for treating rheumatoid arthritis, comprising interleukins (ILs), including IL-1β, stimulated human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs). The IL stimulated hUCMSCs of the present invention may induce the apoptosis of fibroblast-like synoviocytes rheumatoid arthritis (HFLS-RA) cells. IL stimulated hUCMSCs are useful to alleviate RA symptoms, such as inflammation, swelling and cartilage erosion, and exhibit therapeutic effects on rheumatoid arthritis.

A cell culture medium comprising adenosine triphosphate; a carrier protein; cholesterol, linoleic acid, and lipoic acid; glutathione; at least one nucleotide salvage pathway precursor base; phosphoethanolamine; selenium; transferrin; triiodothyronine; all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and vitamin C; zinc, magnesium, and copper; an agent that increases intracellular cAMP; epidermal growth factor (EGF); hydrocortisone; insulin; and charcoal stripped fetal bovine serum, wherein said cell culture medium is substantially free, if not entirely free, of vitamin D, androgenic hormones, androgenic ligands, estrogenic hormones, estrogenic ligands, and/or androgenic receptors.

Compositions and methods of producing mammalian cell populations that include a high proportion of pancreatic beta cells are described herein. Such cell populations are useful for treatment of diabetes. Also provided are materials and methods for the direct differentiation of stem cells, such as embryonic stem cells, into functional pancreatic beta cells. The disclosure provides the benefit of direct differentiation, which results in the production of functional pancreatic beta cells efficiently and at low cost.

Liver metabolism studies are limited by the inability to expand primary hepatocytes in vitro while maintaining their metabolic functions. Human hepatic three dimensional organoids have been established for use in these studies, but hepatic organoids from adult donors had impaired expansion. Methods of achieving expansion of adult donor-derived hepatic organoids (HepAOs) and HepG2 cells (HepGOs) from single cells in organoid cultures using combinations of growth factors and small molecules are described, with assessment of expansion dynamics, gluconeogenic and HNF4α expression, and albumin secretion. The invention discloses conditions including limiting A8301 and incorporating FSK and OSM to allow the expansion of HepAOs from adult donors and HepGOs with gluconeogenic competence. These models increase the repertoire of human hepatic cellular tools available for use in liver metabolic assays.

Described herein are compositions and methods to cryopreserve sporozoites. In some aspects, the method can include the step of placing harvested salivary glands containing sporozoites into an insect-based medium.

The present invention provides muscle-derived progenitor cells that show long-term survival following transplantation into body tissues and which can augment soft tissue following introduction (e.g. via injection, transplantation, or implantation) into a site of soft tissue. 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, soft tissues in the treatment of various functional conditions, including malformation, injury, weakness, disease, or dysfunction. In particular, the present invention provides treatments and amelioration for urinary incontinence and other urinary tract pathologies.