The invention relates to a method for differentiating human pluripotent stem cells into fibroblasts, characterized in that the human pluripotent stem cells are cultured on an adherent system in the presence of a medium that is suitable for culturing fibroblasts and in the absence of feeder cells.

Methods are described for preparing auditory progenitor cells from gingival mesenchymal cells, for uses such as restoring hearing in hearing impaired individuals. In one aspect, a method of treating hearing loss associated with loss of sensory neurons in a human subject is provided, the method comprising the steps of: a. obtaining a population of gingival mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs); b. optionally expanding the population of GMSCs in vitro; c. encapsulating the population of GMSCs in an elastic three-dimensional scaffold; d. exposing the encapsulated population of GMSCs to a composition comprising one or more growth factors; e. allowing co a sufficient period for the population of GMSCs to differentiate towards auditory progenitor cells; f. optionally retrieving the auditory progenitor cells from the scaffold; and g. introducing the auditory progenitor cells into the inner ear of the subject.

Provided are a biomarker identifying method including (1) to (4) and an application thereof. (1) An evaluation value for each of a plurality of biomarkers is derived based on annotation information imparted to each of biomarkers, and a measurement target biomarker is selected based on the evaluation value. (2) The evaluation data of the measurement target biomarker is acquired from the cell A and/or the culture system, before the start of culture of the cell A and/or during the culture. (3) The evaluation data of the discrimination marker of the B cell is acquired from the cell A and/or the culture system, at the final stage of the culture of the cell A and/or after the end of the culture. (4) At least one biomarker indicating characteristics of the cell A is identified from among the measurement target biomarkers, based on the data obtained from (2) and (3).

The present invention provides methods of inducing proliferation of and/or differentiating cells comprising contacting cells with compounds within the methods of the invention. The present invention further provides cells obtainable by the methods of the invention.

Provided is a medium composition for differentiation of a human induced pluripotent stem cell to a dermal papilla precursor cell, a differentiation method, and a use for inducing hair follicle neogenesis using the differentiated dermal papilla precursor cell. Further provided is a method for differentiating a human induced pluripotent stem cell into a dermal papilla precursor cell having hair follicle forming ability and a composition of a dermal papilla precursor cell specific differentiation medium for the above differentiation, and have effectively induced hair follicle neogenesis consisting only of human cells without conventional mouse-human hybrid hair follicles by using the human induced dermal papilla precursor cell and a human induced epidermal precursor cell obtained through the differentiation method. Human hair follicle tissue produced is expected to be useful as a therapeutic method for patients suffering from hair loss by overcoming the limitations of hair loss treatments.

Provided herein are novel organoid culture media, organoid culture systems, and methods of culturing tumor organoids using the subject organoid culture media. Also provided herein are tumor organoids developed using such organoid culture systems, methods for assessing the clonal diversity of the tumor organoids, and methods for using such tumor organoids, for example, for tumor modelling and drug development applications. In particular embodiments, the tumor organoid culture media provided herein is substantially free of R-spondins (e.g., R-spondin1).

Disclosed herein are synthetic leathers, artificial epidermal layers, artificial dermal layers, layered structures, products produced therefrom and methods of producing the same.

The following are disclosed: a method for producing a T cell progenitor, including step (1) of culturing CD34.sup.+ cell in a medium containing an aryl hydrocarbon receptor antagonist, a medium for T cell progenitor differentiation containing an aryl hydrocarbon receptor antagonist, and a T cell progenitor inducer containing an aryl hydrocarbon receptor antagonist.

Methods are provided for the efficient differentiation of hPSCs into HSC-like cells and endothelial cells in defined, monolayer conditions solely using extracellular signals to guide differentiation. The instant disclosure also provides methods of screening for cellular responses of the generated hematopoietic stem cells, endothelial cells and derivatives thereof. Treatment methods making use of the generated hematopoietic stem cells and endothelial cells are also provided. The instant disclosure also provides systems, compositions, and kits for practicing the methods of the disclosure.

Methods and compositions are provided for the regeneration of articular cartilage by activating skeletal stem cells with a combination of (i) mechanical and (ii) biochemical stimulus. The mechanical stimulus can be an acute local injury. The biochemical stimulus can be a combination of an effective dose of a BMP2 activating agent and a VEGF inhibitor.