Provided is a method of preparing a three-dimensional cell spheroid, the method including forming the cell spheroid by co-culturing adipose-derived stem cells or mesenchymal stem cells with hepatocytes. According to the cell spheroid prepared by the method, the secretome secreted by the adipose-derived stem cells affects hepatocyte maturation, and therefore, hepatic functions of the finally formed three-dimensional cell spheroid, i.e., organoid, may be enhanced. Further, a composition including a culture medium of the adipose-derived stem cells may prevent or treat liver diseases including hepatitis, hepatotoxicity, cholestasis, fatty liver, etc., and may enhance hepatic functions.

Disclosed herein are methods for the in vitro differentiation of a precursor cell into definitive endoderm, which may further be differentiated into a human colonic organoid (HCO), via modulation of signaling pathways. Further disclosed are HCOs and methods of using HCOs, which may be used, for example, for the HCOs may be used to determine the efficacy and/or toxicity of a potential therapeutic agent for a disease selected from colitis, colon cancer, polyposis syndromes, and/or irritable bowel syndrome.

The present invention relates to a method for culturing a 3-dimensional lung cancer organoid and a method for preparing a patient-derived xenograft animal model using the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for culturing a 3-dimensional lung cancer organoid, a lung cancer organoid prepared by the method, a medium composition for culturing the lung cancer organoid, a method for preparing a xenograft animal model using the lung cancer organoid, a patient-derived lung cancer organoid xenograft animal model prepared by the method, and a method for analyzing therapeutic efficacy of an anticancer agent and a method for screening an anticancer agent, using the animal model.

The present invention relates to a method for producing skeletal muscle cells from pluripotent stem cells. More specifically, the present invention relates to: a method comprising culturing pluripotent stem cells in a medium containing a GSK3 inhibitor, a medium containing an ALK inhibitor, and a medium containing a cAMP inducer to induce differentiation into skeletal muscle precursor cells; a method comprising culturing the obtained skeletal muscle precursor cells in a medium containing a growth factor and/or a medium free from a growth factor to induce differentiation into skeletal muscle cells; and a frozen cell preparation comprising the obtained skeletal muscle precursor cells.

A method of manufacturing a stem cell sheets is provided which includes: (a) obtaining mesenchymal stem cells; (b) extracting programmed death ligands one (PD-L1) from the mesenchymal stem cells; (c) selecting only PD-L1 positive (PD-L1.sup.+ MSCs) from the PD-L1; (d) differentiating the PD-L1+ cells into osteoblasts and chondroblasts in a predetermined activation condition; and (e) forming the stem cell sheets by mixing the PD-L1+ MSCs with platelet rich plasma solution and CaCl.sub.2).

The current disclosure describes methods of expanding precursor cells for hematopoietic transplantation in subjects. The methods culture precursor cells in media containing an immobilized high molecular weight LILRB2 agonist or an LILRB2 agonist in combination with a Notch agonist. The expanded cells can be used to treat a variety of hematopoietic disorders.

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to use of Schwann cell precursors and Schwann cells derived from stem cells (e.g., human stem cells) for drug discovery in regeneration of peripheral nervous system (PNS) and/or central nervous system (CNS), prevention and/or repair myelin damages, and/or prevention and/or treatment of Schwann cell-related disorder (e.g., peripheral neuropathy diabetic peripheral neuropathy).

The present invention relates to a chemically defined or minimal cell medium for culturing pluripotent stem cells, including embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. The said medium may consist of the following components: a base medium, IGF1, a TGF- family member and a glutamine supplement. The invention also relates to methods and uses involving the cell medium.

The invention is directed to methods for culturing cells so that the cells are induced to differentiate into cells that express hepatocyte phenotypes and hepatocyte progenitor phenotypes. More particularly, the invention relates to methods for culturing cells so that the cells are induced to differentiate into cells that express a definitive endodermal phenotype, a liver-committed endodermal phenotype, a hepatoblast phenotype, and hepatocyte 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 presently disclosed subject matter provides for in vitro methods of inducing differentiation of stem cells into Schwann cell precursors and Schwann cells, and Schwann cell precursors and Schwann cells generated by such methods. The presently disclosed subject matter also provides for uses of such Schwann cell precursors and Schwann cells for regeneration of PNS and/or CNS, for prevention and/or repair of myelin damages, and/or for prevention and/or treatment of Schwann cell related disorders (e.g., peripheral neuropathy, e.g., Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy).