The present disclosure provides methods for generating midbrain dopamine neurons and precursors thereof, midbrain dopamine neurons and precursors thereof generated by such methods and compositions comprising such cells, and uses thereof for preventing, modeling, and/or treating a neurological disorder.

Embodiments disclosed here provide engineered modified hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), artificially prostaglandin E2 (PGE.sub.2)-stimulated HSCs, compositions comprising these HSCs, methods of using these modified HSCs for treating autoimmune diseases and disorders and for suppressing the immune system. In particular, the engineered modified HSCs or PGE.sub.2-stimulated HSCs express the surface marker, programmed cell death-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1).

Methods for differentiating human pluripotent stem cells to dorsal neuroectoderm progenitors and further to glial progenitor cells and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) using inhibitors of BMP signaling and MAPK/ERK signaling are provided. Also provided are cells and cellular compositions obtained by such methods, and uses of such cells. Further provided are methods and protocols for efficiently differentiating human pluripotent stem cells to OPCs in the absence of the ventralizing morphogen SHH or a SHH signaling activator. The methods of the present disclosure reproducibly produce dorsal neuroectoderm progenitor cells by day 7 of the differentiation process, glial progenitor cells by day 21 of the differentiation process and OPCs by day 42 of the differentiation process.

The technology relates in part to methods and compositions for ex vivo proliferation and expansion of epithelial cells.

Methods for generating human arterial endothelial cells under defined conditions in the absence of insulin are described. In particular, provided herein are efficient, defined, and scalable methods for generating human arterial endothelial cells from human pluripotent stem cells. Also provided herein are uses of human arterial endothelial cells obtained according to these methods. For example, methods of treating peripheral arterial disease and methods of screening agents for that effect adhesion of leukocytes to arterial endothelial cells are also provided.

Disclosed are methods of inducing formation of a gastric cells and/or a gastric tissue, such as in the form of a gastric organoid. The formation of gastric cells and/or tissue may be carried out by the activating and/or inhibiting of one or more signaling pathways within a precursor cell. Also disclosed are methods for using the disclosed gastric cells, gastric tissues, and/or gastric organoids derived from precursor cells.

Disclosed are methods for conditionally immortalizing stem cells, including adult and embryonic stem cells, the cells produced by such methods, therapeutic and laboratory or research methods of using such cells, and methods to identify compounds related to cell differentiation and development or to treat diseases, using such cells. A mouse model of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and cells and methods related to such mouse model are also described.

The invention relates to a new type of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) which co-express at least one mesenchymal marker, preferably at least CD105 and CD34. Also provided are bone-forming cells having an analogous phenotype. The invention also provides the cells and cell populations, as well as further products comprising such and uses thereof in bone therapy.

The invention is directed to methods for culturing cells so that the cells are induced to differentiate into cells that express a hepatic stellate phenotype and cells that express a hepatic sinusoidal endothelial phenotype. The invention is also directed to cells produced by the methods of the invention. The cells are useful, among other things, for treatment of liver deficiency, liver metabolism studies, and liver toxicity studies.

The invention relates generally to methods of treating spasticity, rigidity, or muscular hyperactivity conditions by introducing a portion of an expanded population of neural stem cells into an area of a recipient spinal cord.