A method for producing hepatocytes from hepatoblasts is provided. The method includes the step of culturing the hepatoblasts in a medium containing a compound selected from the group consisting of pregnenolone and an adrenergic agonist. The hepatoblasts can be obtained by culturing endodermal cells in a medium containing DMSO, and the endodermal cells can be obtained by culturing pluripotent stem cells in a medium containing Activin A and a GSK-3 inhibitor. Accordingly, a method for producing hepatocytes from pluripotent stem cells is also provided by employing the method of the present invention.

The present invention provides a simple and robust human liver cell-based system in which persistent hepatitis C infection, persistent hepatitis B infection or ethanol exposure induces a clinical Prognostic Liver Signature (PLS) high-risk gene signature. The cellular model system for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)/cirrhosis development and progression may be used in the screening of compounds useful in the treatment and/or prevention of cirrhosis and/or HCC as well as in the identification biomarkers for the prediction of liver disease (especially cirrhosis) progression and HCC. The present invention also relates to specific compounds that have been identified, using such screening methods, as useful in the treatment and/or the prevention of HCC/cirrhosis.

HH culture media and methods are provided to allow for recovery from injury or stress associated with cell isolation procedures and freeze/thaw cycle(s) by the use of a DMSO-supplemented medium, i.e., Phase 1 (recovery-phase). Moreover, HH culture media and methods are provided to allow for support of hepatic functionality of cultured HH at a comparable level to that of the human liver by the use of a DMSO, DMSO2, or TMSO-supplemented medium, i.e., Phase 2 (maintenance-application phase). These HH are suitable for the in vitro study of liver biology, diseases drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics. Furthermore, the culture supernatant of HH during Phase 2, namely, conditioned culture medium of human hepatocytes (CMHH), is provided, which facilitates iHeps maturation and supports the cell fate maintenance of hepatocytes. Methods of preparing CMHH are also provided, including culturing humanized liver chimeric animal derived-human hepatocytes and/or primary human hepatocytes in a medium to be collected.

Polypeptide preparations having target levels of glycans, and methods of producing such polypeptide preparations using DMSO, are described.

The invention relates to compositions for the cryopreservation of transduced haematopoietic cells, in particular transduced haematopoietic stem cells. The invention also relates to methods of preserving the viability of transduced haematopoietic cells using said compositions.

Polypeptide preparations having target levels of glycans, and methods of producing such polypeptide preparations using putrescine, are described.

Polypeptide preparations having target levels of glycans, and methods of producing such polypeptide preparations using DMSO, are described.

The present disclosure relates, in general, to a media, e.g., a serum replacement, media supplement, complete media or cryopreservation media, comprising a base physiological buffer and liposomes comprising cholesterol, phosphatidylcholine and fatty acids. It is contemplated that media provides advantages to improve cell growth in culture compared to cells cultured not using the serum replacement described herein.

The present invention relates to compositions and method for differentiating stem cells. In particular, the present invention relates to methods of generating hepatocytes from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) using a small molecule-driven approach.

The invention relates to the field of CAR-T cell immunotherapy, more specifically the invention relates to production and uses of glyco-engineered CAR-T cells for the improvement of immunotherapy compositions for treatment of cancer, more specifically of solid tumors. The invention specifically relates to human CAR-T cells with a mutated MGAT5 gene, as to provide for surface glycan structures devoid of tetra-antennary N-glycans, which results in a sustained memory when applied in immunotherapy, to cure cancer, reduce (recurrent) tumor growth and tumor burden, as well as to prevent relapse. The invention further relates to methods for manufacturing of those CAR-T cells, wherein addition of low amounts of DMSO during activation and expansion ex vivo skews T cell populations to a more predominant memory phenotype, thereby providing for improved glycol-engineered CAR-T cell compositions for adoptive T cell transfer.