Methods of generating a population of tumor cells, such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs) isolated from fluid from a subject. The methods involve collecting a fluid sample containing the tumor cells from the subject, and culturing the tumor cells in the fluid sample in a three-dimensional cell culture, wherein the three-dimensional cell culture comprises at least one inhibitor of Rho-kinase to generate the population of CTCs. If the fluid is whole blood or contains blood, the method may also involve subjecting the fluid sample to density gradient separation to separate the tumor cells from the fluid prior to culturing. In addition, methods of identifying a candidate treatment for a subject having a condition marked by the presence of tumor cells, methods of monitoring in a subject the persistence, regression, or progression of a disease or condition marked by the presence of tumor cells, and methods of generating a cell line of tumor cells.

The present disclosure relates to a modified mesenchymal stem cell culture medium, a bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell and a culture method and use thereof, the modified mesenchymal stem cell culture medium comprising a basal culture medium, a first component, and melatonin, wherein the first component is at least one selected from the group consisting of coenzyme Q10 and mitoquinone mesylate, and has a working concentration in a range from 1 μM to 20 μM, the melatonin has a working concentration in a range from 1 μM to 20 μM, and the first component and the melatonin are in a molar ratio ranging from 1:0.2 to 1:10. The modified mesenchymal stem cell culture medium can increase the mitochondrial activity and the number of mitochondria in mesenchymal stem cells.

A method for differentiation of neural stem cells, neurons and GABAergic neurons from mesenchymal stem cells includes culturing the mesenchymal stem cells in a medium containing SB431542, Noggin and LDN193189. By this method, the mesenchymal stem cells are differentiated into neural stem cells, neurons and GABAergic neurons at a high transformation rate without gene manipulation.

A method for treating an oral condition of a subject by grafting cultured tissue constructs to the oral tissue. The cultured tissue constructs comprise cultured cells and endogenously produced extracellular matrix components without the requirement of exogenous matrix components or network support or scaffold members. Some tissue constructs of the invention are comprised of multiple cell layers or more than one cell type. The tissue constructs of the invention have morphological features and functions similar to tissues their cells are derived and their strength makes them easily handleable. Preferred cultured tissue constructs of the invention comprise cells derived from human tissue.

Disclosed herein are cell cultures and enriched cell populations of endocrine precursor cells, immature pancreatic hormone-expressing cells and mature pancreatic hormone-expressing cells. Also disclosed herein are methods of producing such cell cultures and cell populations.

The technology described herein relates to methods, assays, and compositions relating to causing a cell to assume a more pluripotent state, e.g. without introducing foreign genetic material.

In one embodiment, the present application discloses a cell culture medium for culturing cell lines suitable for producing a therapeutic protein, comprising an amino acid selected from a group consisting of L-arginine, L-asparagine, L-proline, L leucine and L hydroxyproline and a mixture thereof; a vitamin selected from a group consisting of ascorbic acid Mg.sup.2+ salt, biotin, pyridoxine HCL, folic acid, riboflavin and D-calcium pantothenate, and a mixture thereof; an element selected from a group consisting of ammonium meta vanadate, sodium meta vanadate, germanium dioxide, barium acetate, aluminum chloride, rubidium chloride, cadmium chloride, ammonium molybedate, stannous chloride, cobalt chloride, chromium sulfate, silver nitrate, sodium metasilicate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate H.sub.2O, manganous chloride, ferric nitrate 9H.sub.2O, ferrous sulfate 7H.sub.2O, ferric ammonium citrate, magnesium chloride anhydrous, and magnesium sulfate anhydrous, and a mixture thereof; a nucleoside selected from a group consisting of uridine and cystidine; a sugar selected from a group consisting of galactose, mannose and N-Acetyl-D-Mannosamine; and a triple buffering system comprising sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate and HEPES; wherein the cell culture medium is animal component-free, plant component-free, serum-free, growth factors-free, recombinant protein-free, lipid-free, steroid-free, and free of plant or animal hydrolysates and/or extracts.

The present invention relates to a specific marker for stem cells having long-term multi-lineage blood reconstitution capability and uses thereof for the preparation of cell composition in view of hematopoietic stem cell medicine and in particular regenerative therapies and bone marrow transplantation. Further, the invention relates to methods and compositions useful in the prevention and/or treatment of decreased blood cell levels and the associated risk of infection.

Embodiments of the disclosure encompass methods and compositions related to the ability of RNA to enhance therapeutic activity of fibroblasts. In some embodiments, administration of double stranded RNA is performed through providing polyinosinicpolycytidylic acid (poly (I:C)) or a derivative thereof at a concentration sufficient to induce therapeutic properties and/or to augment therapeutic properties onto said fibroblasts. In one embodiment, enhanced therapeutic activity comprises augmentation of fibroblast migratory activity; efficacy for angiogenesis; efficacy for immune modulation; differentiation ability; production of one or more trophic factors; and/or the ability to resist apoptosis.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for regenerating airway stem cells, as well as methods for treating an airway disease (e.g., cystic fibrosis (CF)) in a subject using the regenerated airway stem cells.