A composition of matter is provided, comprising a population of cultured cells that comprises a sub-population of cells that both stain as CD31Bright and demonstrate uptake of Ac-LDL+, and secrete IL-8. A method is also provided, comprising stimulating in vitro an initiating cell population (ICP) of at least 5 million cells that have a density of less than 1.072 g/ml, wherein at least 1% of the cells of the ICP is CD34+CD45/Dim, and at least 25% of the cells of the ICP are CD31Bright, to differentiate into a progenitor/precursor cell population (PCP). Other embodiments are also described.

The invention relates to a method for long-term ex vivo maintenance or expansion of one or more of a human erythroblast, a human megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor, or a human common myeloid progenitor, comprising the step of: culturing cells comprising one or more of those cells in a culture medium comprising one or more selected from a tankyrase inhibitor, a growth factor, a B-Raf kinase inhibitor and a GSK-3 inhibitor.

The present disclosure relates to erythroid cells that have been engineered to express a homocysteine reducing polypeptide, or a variant thereof, or a homocysteine degrading polypeptide, or a variant thereof. The engineered erythroid cells may further comprise an amino acid transporter, for example a homocysteine transporter or a serine transporter, or a cystathionine degrading polypeptide. The engineered erythroid cells of the present disclosure are useful in reducing the level of homocysteine in a subject. The engineered erythroid cells of the present disclosure are further useful in methods of treating homocystinuria.

The present disclosure relates to erythroid cells that have been engineered to comprise a uricase, a uric acid transporter, or both a uricase and a uric acid transporter. The engineered erythroid cells of the present disclosure are useful in degrading uric acid inside the engineered erythroid cell. The engineered erythroid cells of the present disclosure are useful in methods of treating hyperuricemia. The engineered erythroid cells of the present disclosure are also useful in methods of treating gout, and in particular chronic refractory gout.

Methods for the in vitro production of enucleated red blood cells and the enucleated red blood cells thus prepared are provided. Such enucleated red blood cells may express a sortaggable surface protein, which allows for surface modification in the presence of a sortase. Also described herein are surface modified enucleated red blood cells, e.g., conjugated with an agent of interest such as a peptide, a detectable label, or a chemotherapeutic agent, and uses thereof in delivering the agent to a subject.

Provided is a composition for accelerating cell proliferation, including an erythropoietin-derived peptide as an active ingredient. Due to having a simpler structure than that of the existing natural human erythropoietin, the composition easily passes through the tissue-blood barrier, exhibits excellent cell protective activity, does not cause side effects of cell proliferation, and improves a hematopoietic function. Accordingly, the composition is used in the treatment or prevention of an anemic disorder.

The technology described herein is directed to stromal-free methods of NK cell differentiation. Also described herein are cells differentiated using stromal-free methods and compositions comprising such cells. In some embodiments, the cells can be genetically modified. In some embodiments, the cells or compositions comprising said cells can be administered to a patient to treat cancer or as a cellular replacement therapy to treat a condition.

The present invention provides a human cell population that can self-renew extensively and yet retain the capacity to differentiate into red blood cells (RBCs). These cells are referred to as extensively self-renewing erythroblasts (ESREs). The cells of the invention serve among other things as a renewable source of transfusable RBCs.

Provided are methods for producing progenitor/precursor cells from a population of initiating cells (ICP) that have a density of less than 1.072 g/ml and at least 25% of which are CD31Bright by in vitro stimulating the ICP with different factors.

The present invention provides a human cell population that can self-renew extensively and yet retain the capacity to differentiate into red blood cells (RBCs). These cells are referred to as extensively self-renewing erythroblasts (ESREs). The cells of the invention serve among other things as a renewable source of transfusable RBCs.